One-step catalyst-free generation of carbon nanospheres via laser-induced pyrolysis of anthracene

Carbon nanospheres with diameters between 100 and 400 nm have been successfully synthesized via low-power laser-assisted pyrolysis of anthracene in a nitrogen atmosphere. The developed facile route yields homogeneous nanoparticles and requires no supplementary carbon feedstock or catalyst. The sharp thermal gradient afforded by the laser results in two kinds of carbon products that differ in crystallinity and mean particle size. Our detailed findings point to the carbon nanospheres being comprised of small-unclosed aromatic layers that are connected together by simple organic linkers. C–H bonds in the anthracene molecules are partially broken by the laser beam energy, and as the newly created large radicals aggregate, carbon nanospheres are formed.