Direct synthesis of hollow carbon nanoonion-like particles (HCNOs) decorated uniformly with Sn nanoparticles by long-pulse-width millisecond laser ablation of Sn target in n-hexane solution

The nanocomposites that composed of hollow carbon nanoonion-like particles (HCNOs) decorated with Sn quantum dots (QDs) (Sn QDs/HCNOs nanocomposites) were directly prepared by long-pulse-width millisecond laser ablation of pure Sn metal target immersed in n-hexane solution under room conditions. Low-resolution and High-resolution transmission electronic microscope (TEM) images not only reveal that the as-obtained products are composed of two homogeneously mixed phases, Sn QDs and HCNOs, but also the tight bonding of Sn QDs with the HCNOs. Moreover, Sn QDs/HCNOs composites have uniform morphology and narrow size distribution. The HCNOs present continuous imperfect onion-like structure with hollow cores and have a diameter in the range of 80–100 nm. The Sn QDs with a diameter in the range of 3–5 nm are distributed uniformly on the HCNOs. This work indicates that the pulsed laser ablation in liquid could be applied to the direct synthesis of HCNOs from the decomposition of liquid media via ‘bottom-up’ approach and in situ decoration of them due to the formation of pure metal Sn QDs via ‘top-down’ strategy. (a) Schematic diagram of the formation of Sn QDs/HCNOs nanocomposites by long-pulse-width millisecond laser ablation in n-hexane. (b)TEM images of Sn QDs/HCNOs nanocomposites. • HCNOs decorated with Sn QDs were directly synthesized by millisecond laser ablation of Sn target in n-hexane solution. • The mechanism for the in situ formation of Sn QDs/HCNOs nanocomposites was proposed. • Sn QDs/HCNOs nanocomposites could be used for the in situ reinforcement of metal matrix composite.