title: Nickelocene as precursor of microporous organometallic-derived carbon and nickel oxide-carbon nanocomposite.
abstract: Microporous flower-like and spherical carbon particles, made of graphene-like layers, have been obtained via chlorination of nickelocene (Ni(C5H5)2). Their mechanism of formation, in terms of morphology and micro-nanostructure, has been followed from 200 to 900°C. Conventional transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution-TEM observations allow determining that their structure is made of highly disordered graphene-like layers. The Raman spectrum of the high temperature sample exhibits the characteristics D and G bands. The peak positions, the ratio of their intensities (ID/IG) and full width at half maximum suggest a high degree of disorder in the nanostructures. The calculated in-plane correlation length of these graphene-like layers is 1.15nm. In all the carbon particles, electron energy-loss spectroscopy shows sp2carbon bonding content higher than 95% and mass density in the range of 1.0-1.6g/cm3. Textural studies show Type I adsorption isotherms with surface area of 922m2/g for the sample produced at 900°C. In addition, the basic hydrothermal treatment of the sample chlorinated at 600°C yields a composite material with NiO nanoparticles well dispersed within the carbon matrix.
authors.affiliation: CONACYT - Centro de Ingeniería y Desarrollo Industrial, 76125 Querétaro, Querétaro, Mexico. Electronic address: pedro.gonzalez@cidesi.edu.mx.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: González-García
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense, E-28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arenas-Esteban
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense, E-28040 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: davilabr@ucm.es.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ávila-Brande
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de Microscopía Electrónica, Universidad Complutense, E-28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Urones-Garrote
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense, E-28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Otero-Díaz
keywords: Microporous carbon nanomaterials; Nickel oxide–carbon nanocomposite