Coordinated single-molecule micelles: a self-template approach for preparing mesoporous doped carbons. Issue 31 (26th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ouyang, Huijun; Fang, Chenhong; Xu, Zhi; Li, Le; Xiao, Guyu
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale. Volume 14:Issue 31(2022)
• Page Start: 11298
• Page End: 11304
• Publication Date: 2022-07-26
• Subjects: Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1039/d2nr01655a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-3364

Abstract

Abstract : Hollow carbon nanospheres with the central mesopore are first prepared using a self-template method and concurrently these nanospheres aggregate into hierarchically porous carbons with uniform mesopores. Abstract : Porous carbons prepared using a self-template approach inherit the pore features of template, but they exhibit almost no evenly dispersed mesopores, which is significant for diffusion-limited applications. Herein, N-doped hierarchically porous carbons (NHPCs) with uniform mesopores are prepared using a self-template method. The spherical single-molecule micelle of polystyrene- b -poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (PS- b -P4VP) is turned into a Zn 2+ -coordinated PS- b -P4VP micelle (CPM) by coordination of Zn 2+ with the P4VP shell. Then, the self-template of the CPM is carbonized into a hollow carbon nanosphere. During carbonization, the PS core is decomposed to generate the central mesopore, whereas the Zn 2+ -coordinated P4VP shell is transformed into a carbonaceous shell. These even hollow carbon nanospheres aggregate to form uniformly mesoporous carbon lumps. Simultaneously, the coordinated Zn 2+ of the CPM is reduced to metal zinc at high temperatures and then it is evaporated, thus creating numerous micropores in the carbonaceous shell. These NHPCs with uniform mesopores display a high specific surface area. As a demonstration in diffusion-limited applications, their catalytic performances for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are investigated. Strikingly, NHPCs exhibit outstanding catalytic performances for the ORR. This self-template method paves a facile approach for preparing mesoporous carbons with high performances.