Synthesis of Nickel–Carbon Nanocomposites Using the Mechanical Treatment of Polyvinyl Chloride in the Presence of Nickel Nitrate and Diethylamine

The dehydrochlorination of polyvinyl chloride with diethylamine in the presence of nickel nitrate was carried out on mechanical processing in a high-energy planetary mill. The subsequent heat treatment of the resulting product to 400°C led to the formation of a metal–carbon nanocomposite, in which nickel nanoparticles 50–100 nm in diameter were distributed in an amorphous carbon matrix. The nickel–carbon nanocomposite exhibited catalytic activity in the process of methane conversion at 800°C. Deposits of ordered nanosized carbon structures of two types were observed on metal particles: a graphite-like shell containing up to 80 layers with an interlayer distance of 0.36 nm and bamboo-like nanotubes with a diameter of 30–80 nm. The structure of the resulting products was investigated by transmission and scanning electron microscopy.