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Nickel (Ni)-encapsulating carbon nanocapsules (CNCs) were synthesized by vacuum deposition. The graphene/Ni interfaces within the CNCs were observed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. From lattice imaging, the orientational relationship and atomic configuration at the interfaces were investigated. It was found that the interlayer spacing at the (0001)graphene/(001)Ni interfaces was 0.21 +/- 0.05 nm. The interfaces within Ni3C-encapsulating CNCs, synthesized by the same method, were also examined.

Nickel- (Ni) doped C60nanowhiskers (NWs) were synthesized by a liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation method using a C60-saturated toluene solution and isopropanol with Ni nitrate hexahydrate Ni(NO3)2·6H2O. By varying the heating temperature of Ni-doped C60NWs, two types of one-dimensional carbon nanostructures were produced. By heating the NWs at 973 and 1173 K, carbon nanocapsules (CNCs) that encapsulated Ni nanoparticles were produced. The Ni-encapsulated CNCs joined one dimensionally to form chain structures. Upon heating the NWs to 1373 K, cup-stacked-type carbon nanotubes were synthesized.