Release Time:2019-03-12  Hits:

Indexed by: Journal Article

Date of Publication: 2018-10-07

Journal: NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY

Included Journals: SCIE

Volume: 42

Issue: 19

Page Number: 15962-15967

ISSN: 1144-0546

Abstract: Nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon nanospheres (NS-CNs) have been found to have broad applications in a large variety of areas due to their well tailored physicochemical properties. To achieve an efficient co-doping effect, the synthesis protocols usually rely on a stepwise procedure, which particularly includes a post treatment of the N-doped precursors by using a sulfur-containing material such as H2S and thiourea, thereby making the process time-consuming and complicated in terms of doping control. Here, we demonstrate an effective synthesis strategy to achieve a designated co-doping effect of carbon nanospheres through a molecular design of the precursors used for the formation of carbon nanospheres. Specifically, we identified an efficient co-polymerization process of both diaminobenzenesulfonic acid and melamine with formaldehyde, which gives uniform resin nanospheres at room temperature with both N and S inherited from the two reactants. After a carbonization process, carbon nanospheres were achieved with co-doped elements favorable for their applications. For example, a high performance catalyst was demonstrated from this synthesis protocol with promising potential for catalytic ethylbenzene oxidation.