Single Step, High Yield, Controlled Synthesis of Graphitic Networks from Dense Microemulsions

Materials: Chemicals were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich BV and used as received: the surfactants, sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulphosuccinate (Na-AOT, 99%) and 4(1,1,3,3-Tetramethylbutyl)phenyl-polyethylene glycol (Triton-X 100, 99.999%); the solvents, n-heptane (99.9%) and toluene (≥99.5%); the metal precursors, chloroplatinic acid hydrate (99.9%), iron chloride (≥99%), cobalt acetate tetrahydrate (99.999%), nickel chloride (99.99%); the reducing agents, hydrazine hydrate (solution in water, 35% in weight), sodium borohydride (granular, ≥ 98%); nitric acid (70%) and sulphuric acid (95-98%). Water produced by Milli-Q Ultra-Pure-Water system of Millipore BV was used in all sample formulations. The support used were: titanium grids and silicon wafers, ST Instruments BV; carbon black, Vulcan® XC72R, Cabot Corporation; carbon paper, Alfa Aesar; ceramic crucibles (10cm x 2cm), Fisher Emergo BV.