Self-propelled nanoemulsion assembly of organosilane to the synthesis of high-surface-area hollow carbon spheres for enhanced energy storage

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Switzerland : 1996), 2020-11, Vol.400, p.124973, Article 124973
• Main Authors: Chen, Mingqi, Su, Zhe, Liu, Yajing, Pan, Yankai, Zhang, Yayun, Hu, Mengfei, Ma, Qingyan, Zhou, Qi, Long, Donghui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Energy storage; High specific surface area; Hollow carbon spheres; Nanoemulsion assembly; Organosilane
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2020.124973

[Display omitted] Hollow carbon spheres (HCSs) with large interior cavity and porous shell have emerged as an important class of carbon materials, while exploring novel synthesis methods in terms of convenience, controllability and universality remains a challenge. Herein, we develop a self-propelled nanoemulsion assembly of organosilane approach to fabricate monodispersed HCSs. In this approach, volatile oils are severed as self-elimination soft template and organosilane both as carbon precursor and in-situ pore-template. The key to the synthesis is the self-propelled formation of oil-in-water nanoemulsion stabilized by amphipathic hydrolyzed organosilane, which could hydrolyze at the oil-water interface and condense to form the polysilsesquioxane shell. The present approach has good controllability and universality that can be demonstrated by modulating alternative volatile oils, organosilane precursors and dry condition. After carbonization and NaOH treatment, the as-prepared HCSs have uniform particle size of ∼900 nm, large cavity, controllable carbon shell of 80–110 nm, and high surface area up to 2300 m2/g. The unique integration of high-surface-area and well-defined hollow spherical morphology make them a great potential as electrode materials for supercapacitive energy storage and carbon host for lithium sulfur batteries. These findings could inspire more novel methodologies for constructing of high-surface-area yet well-defined nanostructured materials for tackling energy issues.