Synthesis of Iron and Cobalt Nanoparticles in an IR-Pyrolyzed Chitosan Matrix

Abstract

Metal–carbon nanocomposites IR-CS/Fe and IR-CS/Co in the form of metal nanoparticles dispersed in a carbon matrix are synthesized via the IR pyrolysis of a precursor based on chitosan and metal nitrates. The synthesized samples are studied using IR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The morphologies and degrees of dispersion of the reduced metal nanoparticles in a carbon matrix are compared, and changes in the chemical structure of the polymer at different stages of synthesis are described.