Nanosized Carbon Particles From Natural Gas Soot

Carbon nanoparticles were prepared by refluxing the combustion soot of natural gas in nitric acid. Transmission Electron Microscopy measurements showed that the resulting particles exhibited an average diameter of 4.8 ± 0.6 nm, and the crystalline lattices were consistent with graphitic carbons. 13C NMR and FTIR spectroscopic measurements further confirmed the presence of sp2 carbons in the form of aryl and carboxylic/carbonyl moieties. The resulting carbon nanoparticles were found to emit photoluminescence with a quantum yield of approximately 0.43%. Additionally, the emission band energy of the carbon nanoparticle was very similar to that of much smaller carbon nanoparticles obtained from candle soot,…

• DO
  Division of Materials Research