Carbonization of Zr-Loaded Thiourea-Functionalized Styrene-Divinylbenzene Copolymers: An Easy Way to Synthesize Nano-ZrO2@C and Nano-(ZrC, ZrO2)@C Composites

Thermal processing of Zr-loaded ion-exchangers is a facile route to synthetize (ZrO2, ZrC)@C composites. In the present paper, furnace and RF-thermal plasma ZrOCl2 loaded thiourea-functionalized styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer was investigated led composites containing ZrO2 ZrC. Different ZrO2@C were formed between 1000 1400 °C in 2 h, whereas composite ZrC created at 8 h. The ratio ZrO2/ZrC, prevailing modifications, crystallite sizes strongly depend on synthesis conditions. ZrC-containing only h by treatment sample prepared furnace, resulting 16% content, with 44 41 nm sizes, respectively. ZrO2-containing (tetragonal, monoclinic, cubic modifications 65–88 15–43 m2/g BET surface areas) tube All had both amorphous carbon graphite, their temperature dependent. carbonaceous compounds characterized Raman spectroscopy analysis G D band intensities. XPS studies showed oxidation