Atmospheric Arc Discharge as a Fabrication Tool for Synthesizing Iron Nanoparticles Embedded into Carbon Nanosheets

Abstract

Simple and reliable method was engaged to obtain densely-packed and easy-to-manipulate arrays of iron nanoparticles protected from the potential action of atmospheric factors, which are in demand for catalytic applications. For the purpose, atmospheric arc discharge was initiated in a discharge gap of 10 mm between stainless steel electrodes. The gap was filled with a mixture of micrometre-sized powders of graphite and iron. After passing a direct arc current of 140 A for 2 min, a significant change in the morphology and chemical composition of the initial materials was observed. After a positive polarity was supplied to a smaller electrode, carbon nanosheets with an average width of 200 mm and thickness of about 20 nm that host Fe nanoparticles with diameters mostly ranging from 10 to 40 nm were found. Moreover, the initial oxygen content of 18% wt. was reduced to just 4% wt., as measured in the synthesized nanocomposites.