Plasma-assisted preparation of nano-(ZrC, ZrO2)@carbon composites from Zr-loaded sulfonated styrene–divinylbenzene copolymers

Abstract We have developed a simple method to prepare nano-(ZrC 0.93 , ZrO 2- polymorphs)@carbon composites with graphite/amorphous carbon content and adjustable Zr/C ratio based on using multistep tube furnace plasma-assisted heat treatment of zirconium-loaded sulfonated styrene–divinylbenzene (STY-DVB) copolymers. Pre-pyrolysis STY-DVB ion exchangers 2 8 mass % DVB at temperatures between 1000 1400 °C for h produced nano-ZrO @C intermediates particle sizes ~ 30–60 nm no ZrC formation. Plasma processing resulted in )@C 11% (under He atmosphere) (C/Zr = 73) or 13% H 58) content. Three polymorphs the zirconium dioxide (tetragonal, monoclinic cubic, 18 27 nm) were found products. The amounts tetragonal ones are comparable that . average size prepared this way was be 21–23 nm. BET surface area )@C(graphite) over 250 300 m /g, respectively. reproducible easy nano-(ZrC, products by setting content, sulfonation degree, Zr loading thermal conditions, which an influence intermediates. copolymers (2 mass% DVB) their decomposition characterized vibrational spectroscopy, analysis DSC powder XRD, BET, XPS HRTEM methods,