Facile One-step Synthesis of Ordered Mesoporous Carbons Doped with Nickel Particles

Ordered mesoporous carbons doped with Ni nanoparticles (DCs) have been prepared by direct carbonization of the composites of a reverse copolymer PPO-PEO-PPO/[Ni(H2O)(6)](NO3)(2)/phenolic resin self-assembled in ethanol medium. The effects of the amount of phenolic resin on the pore features and structures were analyzed by small-angle X-ray scattering, X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption isotherms and transmission electron microscope. The results showed that the Ni(II) was reduced into metallic Ni nanoparticle. Moreover, the nickel particle catalyzes the graphitization of MCs when low amount of phenolic resin was used at relatively low carbonization temperature (800 degrees C) under N-2 atmosphere. The DCs have long ordered pore structure when using less amount of phenolic resin such as the ratio of phenol/template is 0.5:1 or o.8:1. However, the pore structure became disordered when using high ratio of phenol/template such as 1:1, 1.2:1 or 1.5:1.