New method for preparing supported metals: decomposition of metallocenes by the graphitide KC8

Abstract

The reaction between the binary graphitide KC₈ and a biscyclopentadienyl metal M(C₅H₅)₂(M = Fe and Ni) commonly called metallocene, has been performed under a controlled atmosphere in dimethoxyethane (DME) at different temperatures. This method has the advantage of producing ‘pure’ metal supported on graphite, since the byproduct C₅H₅K formed is soluble in DME. In the case of ferrocene, the reaction is not complete and the solid phase is iron supported on a ternary compound, KC₂₄(DME)_1.35. The metallic particles thus prepared are expected to have interesting catalytic activity. In this work, the reaction products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX).