TY - JOUR

T1 - Short-Time Magnetron Sputtering for the Development of Carbon–Palladium Nanocomposites

AU - Knabl, Florian

AU - Kostoglou, Nikolaos

AU - Terziyska, Velislava

AU - Hinder, Steven J.

AU - Baker, Mark

AU - Bousser, Etienne

AU - Rebholz, Claus

AU - Mitterer, Christian

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 by the authors.

PY - 2024/1/12

Y1 - 2024/1/12

N2 - In recent nanomaterials research, combining nanoporous carbons with metallic nanoparticles, like palladium (Pd), has emerged as a focus due to their potential in energy, environmental and biomedical fields. This study presents a novel approach for synthesizing Pd-decorated carbons using magnetron sputter deposition. This method allows for the functionalization of nanoporous carbon surfaces with Pd nano-sized islands, creating metal–carbon nanocomposites through brief deposition times of up to 15 s. The present research utilized direct current magnetron sputtering to deposit Pd islands on a flexible activated carbon cloth substrate. The surface chemistry, microstructure, morphology and pore structure were analyzed using a variety of material characterization techniques, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, gas sorption analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed Pd islands of varying sizes distributed across the cloth’s carbon fibers, achieving high-purity surface modifications without the use of chemicals. The synthesis method preserves the nanoporous structure of the carbon cloth substrate while adding functional Pd islands, which could be potentially useful in emerging fields like hydrogen storage, fuel cells and biosensors. This approach demonstrates the possibility of creating high-quality metal–carbon composites using a simple, clean and economical method, expanding the possibilities for future nanomaterial-based applications.

AB - In recent nanomaterials research, combining nanoporous carbons with metallic nanoparticles, like palladium (Pd), has emerged as a focus due to their potential in energy, environmental and biomedical fields. This study presents a novel approach for synthesizing Pd-decorated carbons using magnetron sputter deposition. This method allows for the functionalization of nanoporous carbon surfaces with Pd nano-sized islands, creating metal–carbon nanocomposites through brief deposition times of up to 15 s. The present research utilized direct current magnetron sputtering to deposit Pd islands on a flexible activated carbon cloth substrate. The surface chemistry, microstructure, morphology and pore structure were analyzed using a variety of material characterization techniques, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, gas sorption analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed Pd islands of varying sizes distributed across the cloth’s carbon fibers, achieving high-purity surface modifications without the use of chemicals. The synthesis method preserves the nanoporous structure of the carbon cloth substrate while adding functional Pd islands, which could be potentially useful in emerging fields like hydrogen storage, fuel cells and biosensors. This approach demonstrates the possibility of creating high-quality metal–carbon composites using a simple, clean and economical method, expanding the possibilities for future nanomaterial-based applications.

KW - activated carbon cloth

KW - magnetron sputtering

KW - metal–carbon composites

KW - palladium

KW - physical vapor deposition

KW - surface functionalization

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85183115557&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3390/nano14020164

DO - 10.3390/nano14020164

M3 - Article

VL - 14.2024

JO - Nanomaterials

JF - Nanomaterials

SN - 2079-4991

IS - 2

M1 - 164

ER -