Formation of metal-carbon composites by thermal breakdown of metallocomplexes inserted into graphite matrix

Novel carbon composites containing nanocrystals of Cu and Ni distributed in a layered carbon matrix have been obtained by thermal breakdown of Cu(2+) complexes [GO-Cu] and Ni(2+) [GO-Ni] implanted into a graphite matrix, the thermal breakdown being performed in an Ar atmosphere at 800‡C. When the [GO-Cu] is heated in air to 300‡C, composites containing CuO clusters in a carbon matrix are obtained.