Sponge-like carbon containing nitrogen and iron provides a non-precious oxygen reduction catalyst

Two Sprayer CVD Synthesis of Nitrogen-doped Carbon Sponge-type Nanomaterials

Nitrogen-doped carbon sponge-type nanostructures (N-CSTNs) containing coaxial multiwalled carbon nanotubes are synthesized at 1020 °C by using a modified chemical vapor deposition (CVD) arrangement. Here, the CVD reactor is supplied by two flows coming from two independent sprayers (called sprayer A and sprayer B). The nebulized material in each sprayer is transported by two different gases with different flow velocities. The synthesis of carbon N-CSTNs is performed using different precursors: sprayer A contains a solution composed of ethanol, thiophene and ferrocene, whereas sprayer B contains a solution of benzylamine, thiophene and ferrocene. Samples are classified according to the position inside the reactor and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Samples collected at the beginning of the reactor contain curly structures with diameters of 10–100 nm. At the end of the reactor, the sample is mainly formed by one type of structure. A spongy-type material is mainly formed in the hottest zone of the tubular furnace. The N-CSTNs are highly hydrophobic with oil sorption properties, which could be used for adsorption of oil spills.