ABSTRACT
A variety of carbon micro-nanoparticles (tubes, bags, ribbons, chains, lled solid and hollow spheres) have been produced from chlorination of metallocenes M(C5H5)2 and their derivatives M(C5H5)2Cl2. Here, the low melting point and high reactivity of the precursors in the presence of chlorine gas result in a spontaneous reaction yielding carbon architectures formed by highly disordered graphene-like layers. Changes at the micrometric and nanometric scales in terms of morphology, structure, bonding, mass-density, chemical composition, and porous texture as a result of the precursor (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Nb, W, Ti,Zr) and the synthesis conditions are analyzed and described in detail mainly by transmission electron microscopy, in both image and diffraction modes, as well as using the analytical tools (energy-dispersive spectroscopy, electron energy-loss spectroscopy) associated with the microscope; in addition nitrogen adsorption, x-ray diffraction, and
Raman spectroscopy measurements are included. The interesting structural and textural characteristics found in the particles mentioned before provide a wide range of alternatives to obtain different graphene-based materials with potential applications such as gas storage (CO2, hydrogen, methane), energy-storage systems, electrodes in electrochemical doublelayer capacitor, and catalyst supports, among others.
