Carbonaceous nanoparticles, methods of making same and uses thereof
Methods and compositions of carbonaceous nanoparticle fabrication and their use for electrode materials in supercapacitors are provided. The method includes a first step of reacting a first carbon source with a second carbon source in the presence of a nitrogen source in a DC arc furnace to form a composite nanoparticle. The second carbon source includes a dopant. The composite nanoparticle includes a crystalline carbon phase having an amorphous phase comprising dopant or carbide. The method includes a second step of removing the amorphous second layer to form the carbonaceous nanoparticle.
1. A method of making a carbonaceous nanoparticle, comprising:
reacting a first carbon source with a second carbon source in the presence of a nitrogen source in a DC arc furnace to form a composite nanoparticle,
wherein the second carbon source comprises a dopant,
wherein the composite nanoparticle comprises a crystalline carbon phase having an amorphous phase comprising dopant or carbide; and
removing the amorphous phase from the composite nanoparticle by heating at 450° C. in air to form the carbonaceous nanoparticle,
wherein the carbonaceous nanoparticle comprises a nano-porous particle having a framework consisting of inter-nested carbon nano-horns and twisted nano-graphite sheets.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first carbon source is selected from graphite and carbon black.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dopant comprises boron.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dopant comprises boron carbide (B 4 C).
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the weight percent of the first carbon source to the second carbon source comprises from about 2:1 to about 20:1.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the ratio of the weight percent of the first carbon source to the second carbon source comprises about 9:1.