One-pot achieving well-dispersed copper nanoparticles on N-doped carbon films

Highly dispersible copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) anchoring on the N-doped carbon films are achieved by pyrolyzing urea, citric acid and copper nitrate in one pot. The presence of the CuNPs and the N-doped carbon film is investigated by transmission electron microscopic, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectra. The citric acid is used as a carbon source to support the as-synthesized CuNPs and the urea takes a role as a nitrogen source to dope into the carbon structure and localize the CuNPs with a separated state. Such an N-doped carbon film with well-dispersed CuNPs on its surface presents an excellent catalytic performance and stability via using the reduction of 4-nitrophenol by NaBH₄ as a model reaction. - Highlights: • The Cu nanoparticles (NPs) anchoring on the nitrogen-doped carbon film (NCF) are achieved in one pot. • The CuNPs are highly dispersed on the surface of the NCF. • The urea benefits for enlarging the surface area of carbon film. • The Cu-NCF displays excellent catalytic performance.