Preparation of carbon-coated copper nanoparticles by detonation decomposition of copper ion doped sol–gel explosive precursors

Carbon-coated copper (Cu-C) nanoparticles with a core–shell structure were prepared by detonation decomposition of energetic Cu ion doped sol–gel explosive precursors. The composite nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution TEM, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. The results indicate that the as-obtained core–shell structure Cu-C nanoparticles are with diameter about 10–40 nm. The composite nanoparticles are composed of face-centered cubic-Cu and the amorphous/graphitic carbon coating shells. The thermal stability of the obtained samples was studied by a difference scanning calorimetry–thermogravimetric analyzer. By varying the composition of initial mixtures that contain Cu ion explosive precursors, the different size and chemical composition of composite nanoparticles are shown in this study. The growth mechanism of Cu-C was also briefly discussed.