Encapsulation of Co nanoparticles via hydrogel-assisted combustion synthesis
摘要
This study introduces a novel hydrogel-assisted combustion synthesis technique for the encapsulation of cobalt (Co) nanoparticles. The hydrogel matrix demonstrates dual functionality, acting both as a template and as a carbon source, thereby influencing precursor alignment and enhancing encapsulation efficiency. FTIR analysis shows strong interactions between sodium acrylate-acrylamide hydrogel matrix, Co salt, and glycine fuel. The XRD, TEM, and XPS analyses demonstrate that combustion synthesis produces two distinct structural forms: (1) Co nanoparticles encapsulated within graphitic carbon shells, with core sizes ranging from 10 to 30 nm and shell thicknesses of approximately 10–30 nm, where the graphitic shell exhibits an interlayer spacing of ~ 0.36–0.39 nm, indicating a turbostratic structure with some disorder, and (2) onion-like carbon (OLC) particles, characterized by concentric graphitic layers with interlayer spacings of ~ 0.35–0.36 nm, but without a well-defined circular dimension. The synthesized particles were tested for their potential in hyperthermia applications and showed specific absorption rates (SARs) ranging from 15 to 21 W·g⁻1 for the sample containing 50 wt% cobalt.