Fundamental Analysis of Carbon Spheres Synthesized via Sucrose-Derived Hydrothermal Carbonization

Carbon spheres are a promising material than can be used in various applications, including energy storage, drug delivery systems, and reinforcement in composites. This study focuses on the preparation and characterization of carbon spheres produced via hydrothermal carbonization using sucrose as a sustainable and cost-effective carbon source. The precursor solution concentration is adjusted to tailorthe size of the microspheres, a crucial factor that impacts their properties. Next, the spheres are subjected to thermal annealing at 600 °C in an inert atmosphere to eliminate functional groups and increase the carbon content. The thermal transformations occurring in the preparation of reduced carbon spheres (rCS) are investigated through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) across a broad temperature range from 25 to 800°C. Additional characterization techniques, like scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), provide in-depth insights into their morphology, composition, surface chemistry, and structural complexities. The results confirm the successful reduction of functional groups and structural changes during thermal annealing. Further investigation into the impact of precursor concentration and annealing temperature on the properties of rCS will be presented.