From starch to metal/carbon hybrid nanostructures:: Hydrothermal metal-catalyzed carbonization

An efficient method has been successfully realized for the controlled synthesis of various metal/carbon nanoarchitectures. The formation of metal/carbon nanocables and nanochains via a facile and mild hydrothermal carbonization co-reduction process (HCCR) is reported. The method involves the use of starch and noble metal salts as starting materials under mild conditions (: 200 degreesC).