Chemical properties study of nickel- and iron oxide-based carbon nanoparticles synthesized in submerged arc discharge by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Abstract

Submerged arc discharge has been widely applied for synthesizing carbon-based nanoparticles. However, the use of a liquid medium might affect the chemical properties of the produced nanoparticles. In this study, the chemical properties such as the functional groups attached to such nanoparticles were explored by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, visualized by their dispersity in ethanol and distilled water. The nanoparticles were produced by submerged arc discharge using carbon, nickel, and iron oxide filled carbon electrodes as cathode and anode placed in a 50% ethanol liquid medium. A high electrical current was passed between the electrodes to produce the arc, which evaporated the carbon. This led to interaction with metal compounds, resulting in nickel- and iron oxide-based carbon nanoparticles, namely, Ni/C and Fe3O4/C, respectively. The results on the dispersion properties strengthened the hypothesis that the hydroxy groups, which came from the liquid medium, were covalently attached or only physically adsorbed on the nanoparticle surface as the remaining solvent. Metal-oxide interaction suggested that submerged arc discharge can be used for compositing compounds without destroying the typical structure of graphite and the magnetic properties of metal as a starting material. Moreover, a dependency of the metal compounds on the surface characteristics was evident.