Synthesis and thermal stability of carbon-supported Ru–Ni core-and-shell nanoparticles

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Binary nanoparticles of Ru–Ni supported on a carbon nanolayer and carbon-coated Ru–Ni core-and-shell nanoparticles were synthesized in a single step spray-pyrolysis process. A precursor containing ruthenium chloride and nickel chloride solution mixture was used to deposit Ru–Ni nanoparticles on a carbon nanolayer generated from hexane. Carbon-coated nanoparticles were produced by using ruthenium chloride and nickel chloride solution mixed with methanol and hexane as precursor in the spray-pyrolysis process. A carbon layer that was derived from the thermal decomposition of hexane and methanol forms a protective shell around the binary core-and-shell nanoparticles of Ru–Ni. TEM and EDS spectral graphs confirm the presence of carbon layers encapsulating the Ru–Ni nanoparticles. The encapsulating carbon layers are effective in reducing agglomeration of binary nanoparticles in the spray-pyrolysis process. The carbon-coated binary nanoparticles were subjected to heat treatment at temperatures up to 800 °C, the size and morphology of the nanoparticles before and after heat treatment were compared to examine the thermal stability of the nanoparticles. It was observed that the carbon-coated Ru–Ni nanoparticles exhibit unique thermal stability. EDS, SEM, and TEM data revealed that the morphology of the nanoparticles did not change during the heat treatment.