AN APPROACH TO NANOSCALE METALS IN CARBON MICROFLAKES FROM HEXA-2,4-DIYNE-1,6-DIOL

The hexa-2,4-diyne-1,6-diol is shown to be a good candidate to get tra nsition metal-containing carbon phases. The UV-photolysis generates a highly functionalized polymeric framework. Besides the alkene and alky ne functionalities, the hydroxy groups appear to be binding or reactiv e sites toward transition metal complexes or salts, enabling the metal deposition to be controlled. Their conversion into carboxy substituen ts, in order to widen the variety of metal sources, is easily achieved . The carbonization (<600 degrees C) leads to carbon microflakes conta ining homogeneously dispersed metal nanoclusters.