# Effect of Metal Additives on the Structure, Morphology, and Adsorption Characteristics of the Composites: Silicon Monoxide/Phenol–Formaldehyde-Derived Carbon

## TL;DR

This study explores how adding metals affects the structure and adsorption properties of silicon monoxide and carbon composites for industrial use.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a two-step method to synthesize metal-doped nanocomposites and evaluates their adsorption mechanisms.

## Key findings

- The composites exhibit mesoporous and microporous structures with varying pore proportions.
- Metal additives influence carbon quality, with defect density and graphitization decreasing in the order Co > Ni > Cu > Zn > SiO.
- Adsorption efficiency depends on textural, structural, and morphological characteristics and active metal centers.

## Abstract

The role of metal additives in the synthesis of composite materials based on the silicon and carbon-containing materials to create the desired structural and adsorption properties is analyzed. A two-step procedure was applied to obtain a series of nanocomposites doped with metal oxides. Various techniques were used to characterize the phase composition and the textural, structural, morphological, and thermal properties of the synthesized materials: X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption–desorption, and thermal analysis. The adsorption processes on the obtained nanocomposites were studied for aqueous solutions of aniline, benzoic acid, and phenol. The influence of the metal additives on the formation of carbonaceous structures, the adsorption efficiency, and the adsorption mechanism was determined. The synthesized composites show mesoporous and microporous structures, with varied proportions of both pore types. They are differentiated, taking into account the quality of the carbon material (defect density and degree of graphitization), which decreases in the Co > Ni > Cu > Zn > SiO line. The complex effect of the factors determining the adsorption mechanism and efficiency was investigated: textural, structural, and morphological characteristics and the role of the active metal centers. Generally, the results provide valuable insights into the adaptation of hybrid materials for various industrial applications and underline their versatility.