Due to its unique properties, nanodiamond is prospective for many applications. For instance, being relatively chemically inert and having large specific surface area, it may be used as a good catalyst carrier; combination of nanodiamond with magnetic nanoparticles is also of a great interest. Hence it's important to develop efficient methods for its nanometallization.
Previously, we had already applied thermal destruction of metal-containing compounds in mineral oil for nanometallization of ultradispersed polythetrafluoroethylene granules [S.P. Gubin, et al. Acta Materialia 53, 5 (2005)]. In this work, we have successfully implemented a similar approach for covering the detonation nanodiamond conglomerates (with the size of approx. 150 - 300 nm) with Fe-, Co-, and Pd-containing nanoparticles. We have also fixed the obtained Co- and Fe-containing structures within the polyethylene matrix.
The obtained composites have been studied with TEM, XRD, DTA, element analysis, and NMR. Size distribution of the metal-containing nanoparticles (MCNPs) and composition of the produced samples have been determined. Attachment of the MCNPs to the nanodiamond conglomerates has been proved for all the samples. Magnetic studies of several Co-containing samples have been performed. |