Mass Production and Pore Size Control of Holey Carbon Microcages

Authors

Lei Zhang, University of Wollongong
Xiaoxiao Liu, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Yuhai Dou, University of WollongongFollow
Binwei Zhang, University of WollongongFollow
Huiling Yang, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Shi Xue Dou, University of WollongongFollow
Hua-Kun Liu, University of WollongongFollow
Yunhui Huang, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Xianluo Hu, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

RIS ID

116926

Publication Details

Zhang, L., Liu, X., Dou, Y., Zhang, B., Yang, H., Dou, S., Liu, H. Kun., Huang, Y. & Hu, X. (2017). Mass Production and Pore Size Control of Holey Carbon Microcages. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 56 (44), 13790-13794.

Abstract

Architectural control of porous solids, such as porous carbon cages, has received considerable attention for versatile applications because of their ability to interact with liquids and gases not only at the surface, but throughout the bulk. Herein we report a scalable, facile spray-pyrolysis route to synthesize holey carbon microcages with mosquito-net-like shells. Using the surfaces of water droplets as the growth templates, styrene-butadiene rubber macromolecules are controllably cross-linked, and size-controllable holes on the carbon shells are generated. The as-formed carbon microcages encapsulating Si nanoparticles exhibit enhanced lithium-storage performances for lithium-ion batteries. The scalable, inexpensive synthesis of porous carbon microcages with controlled porosity and the demonstration of outstanding electrochemical properties are expected to extend their uses in energy storage, molecular sieves, catalysis, adsorbents, water/air filters, and biomedical engineering.