Synthesis and characterization of spherical carbon and polymer capsules with hollow macroporous core and mesoporous shell structures

Abstract The synthesis and characterization of spherical carbon hollow capsules with mesoporous shell (HCMS) structures is reported. Silica spheres with sub-micrometer sized solid cores and mesoporous shell (SCMS) structures were used as templates in the synthesis. The resulting carbon capsules inversely replicated the morphology of the silica template and had uniform pores with a narrow pore size distribution centered at 3 nm. The carbon capsules exhibited a BET surface area of >1000 m 2 /g and a total pore volume of >1.0 cm 3 /g. The diameter of the hollow core and the mesoporous shell thickness of the carbon capsules could easily be controlled using appropriate SCMS silica materials as templates. Using a similar synthetic procedure, hollow poly(divinylbenzene) capsules were also synthesized.