Nanocasting Route to Ordered Mesoporous Carbon with FePt Nanoparticles and Its Phenol Adsorption Property

Magnetic ordered mesoporous carbon with superparamagnetic FePt nanoparticles has been successfully prepared via a simple nanocasting route. Polyfurfuryl alcohol was formed in the channels of mesoporous silica; FePt sources (iron(III) acetylacetonate (Fe(acac)(3) and platinum(II) acetylacetonate (Pt(acac)(2)) were located in the framework of polyfurfuryl alcohol. After the carbonization process in argon, cubic FePt nanoparticles were formed in the carbon matrix. The FePt@C composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, N-2 adsorption-desorption technique, and SQUID magnetometer. The superparamagnetic FePt@C sample can be obtained at the lower FePt loading level; while at higher FePt loading levels, the FePt@C sample exhibits the ferromagnetic property. By use of phenol as a model pollutant, the adsorption capacities of FePt@C-L-700 and FePt@C-H-700 can reach 139 and 114 mg/g, respectively. The magnetic separation can also be realized using an external magnetic field. Therefore, the magnetic ordered mesoporous carbon composite has potential application as a catalyst support and adsorbent.