We developed a very simple, template-free, and environmentally friendly one-step chemical synthesis route to fabricate unagglomerated polypyrrole (PPy) nanospheres. The proposed new fabrication method enables the production of size-controlled unagglomerated PPy nanospheres without the help of any supporting materials such as "hard" and "soft" templates and under mild conditions, viz., room temperature, atmospheric pressure, and no need for acid. From the theoretical calculation, we could find that our novel system was suitable to prepare the unagglomerated PPy spheres. The process is discussed on the basis the classical colloidal and microemulsion theory.

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This study reports the dual-functions of ferrous sulfate, i.e. as a carbon-yield-enhancer and as a pore-size-controller, in the preparation of porous carbons from rice straws. Through the impregnation of rice straws with 0.5 M aq. FeSO 4 , the carbon yield of the resultant porous carbons increased by ca. 10 % and the size of the newly created pores was precisely controlled at the diameter of 0.53 nm during carbonization process. The observed results were discussed from the view points of the thermal degradation mechanism of cellulose and the pillar effects by the in-situ formed crystallites of Fe 3 O 4 . The inherent magnetic property due to the presence of magnetite, Fe 3 O 4 , was an additional merit of the obtained porous carbons.