Precursor‐Controlled Formation of Novel Carbon/Metal and Carbon/Metal Oxide Nanocomposites

Precursor-controlled thermolysis has been developed to specifically prepare structured carbonaceous materials (see figure) by using simple, but structurally defined, organic–cobalt complexes as starting compounds. The carbon–metal nanocomposites show excellent lithium storage properties as an anode material in lithium-ion batteries after controllable oxidation. They may also be useful as catalysts for fuel cells and other heterocatalytic reactions and as sensors for detecting chemicals and biomaterials.