Preparation of Metal-Carbon Nanocomposites from Cu–Fe Alloy Nanoparticles and Carbonized Polyacrylonitrile

A method is proposed for the preparation of Cu–Fe bimetallic system nanoparticles with limited mutual solubility of components. The synthesis method implies a one-pot IR pyrolysis process of precursors as films obtained from a solution of polyacrylonitrile and hydrates of iron and copper nitrates. The influence of synthesis temperature on the formation of a structure of nanocomposites and the phase composition of Cu–Fe bimetallic nanoparticles dispersed in a carbon matrix is studied. The analysis shows that there are both Fe and Cu phases in the nanocomposites, probably with a low mutual solubility of the components. The average size of particles is 14–17 nm, and it changes insignificantly with an increase in synthesis temperature from 400 to 700°C. An increase in synthesis temperature to 800°C leads to a broadening of the particle size distribution and an increase in average size. Complex carbon nanostructures on Cu–Fe nanoparticles are formed.