Abstract
Cr3C2 has drawn great interest due to its excellent physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. Herein, Cr3C2@C nanocapsules (NCs) were contrived by the arc discharge plasma method by the direct evaporation of Cr metal ingots under a mixed static pressure of Ar/CH4 gases. Synchronized thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA) studies revealed that at 300 degrees C, Cr3C2@C NCs underwent a phase evaluation process (Cr3C2@Cr2O3), and at similar to 650 degrees C transformed to Cr2O3. The growth process of Cr3C2@C NCs in an arc discharge passed through the nucleation of Cr3C2 seeds and then anisotropic growth of the seeds into hexagonal platelet-like morphologies under a controlled carbon content. By, tuning microstructures of pristine Cr3C2 to Cr3C2@C NCs gives broad increment in surface area and pore size. It implies more space on Cr3C2@C surface for adsorption and photodegradation of organic pollutants due to NCs defective and mesoporous nature.