Issue 4, 2018

A facile self-template and carbonization strategy to fabricate nickel nanoparticle supporting N-doped carbon microtubes

Abstract

The efficient preparation of non-precious metal nanocatalysts embedded in carbon nano/microtubes remains a considerable challenge. Herein, we report a facile self-template and carbonization strategy to fabricate nickel nanoparticle (NP) supporting N-doped carbon microtubes. Firstly, molybdenum trioxide (a-MoO3) microrods are coated with polypyrrole (MoO3@PPy) by a simple in situ polymerization route. Then, PPy@PDA-Ni2+ microtubes with a hollow structure are obtained by further coating the PDA-Ni2+ complex in ammonia solution. In contrast, the direct coating of MoO3 microrods with PDA-Ni2+ under the same experimental conditions only leads to aggregated PDA-Ni2+ spheres. Moreover, nickel/N-doped carbon microtubes (Ni/NCMTs) can be obtained by a further heating treatment and highly graphitic carbon microtubes are achieved by etching the nickel nanoparticles. The hollow Ni/NCMTs exhibit excellent reduction activity on 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). Moreover, the size of Ni nanoparticles (Ni NPs) which can effectively control the catalytic performance of the as-prepared nanocomposites is facilely adjusted via changing the roasting temperature. Benefitting from the highly exposed surface, short diffusion distance, and homogeneous Ni NP dispersion, the Ni/NCMT catalyst exhibits an improved activity on 4-NP. This novel structure is helpful for further applications in hydrogen evolution reaction, supercapacitors and batteries.

Graphical abstract: A facile self-template and carbonization strategy to fabricate nickel nanoparticle supporting N-doped carbon microtubes

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
17 1 2018
Accepted
29 1 2018
First published
29 1 2018

Inorg. Chem. Front., 2018,5, 844-852

A facile self-template and carbonization strategy to fabricate nickel nanoparticle supporting N-doped carbon microtubes

J. Wang, M. Zhang, T. Miao, Y. Ling, Q. Wen, J. Zheng, J. Xu, T. Hayat and N. S. Alharbi, Inorg. Chem. Front., 2018, 5, 844 DOI: 10.1039/C8QI00039E

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