A low temperature route to making diverse carbon nanoforms, including nanoonions and multiwalled nanotubes, has been developed by researchers in Spain. The route is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than other routes and is scalable.
The method involves a thermal decomposition of a sebacate-intercalated NiFe layered double hydroxide at 400oC and benefits from the catalytic activity of the FeNi3 nanoparticles generated in situ.
Applications of these nanocarbons include photovoltaic materials, lubricants, drug delivery, magnetic storage materials and electrochemical devices.
Link to journal article
Layered double hydroxide (LDH) – organic hybrids as precursors for the low-temperature chemical synthesis of carbon nanoforms
G Abellán et al
Chem. Sci., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/c2sc01064j
