Bridging hollow carbon nanostructures to hierarchically pomegranate-like microspheres for efficient oil adsorption and catalysis applications

Pickering Emulsion Droplet-Derived Multicompartmentalized Microspheres for Innovative Applications

“…4,21 In addition, the assemblies of functional materials, e.g., carbon nanotubes (CNTs), can be immobilized within emulsion droplet-derived particles via polymerization. 14,16 In principle, Pickering emulsion droplets are capable of accommodating this bottom-up assembly process for generating multilevel-structured particles. Only one or possibly two or more types of nanoparticles can be encapsulated into Pickering emulsion droplets, providing a flexibility in tuning components and internal structures of superparticles.…”

“…The large void space and spatially separated compartments within these multilevel-structured microparticles deliver a highway for oil molecule diffusion and extensive free space for the storage of oil. 14…”

“…In addition to microscale Pickering emulsion droplets and molecular surfactant micelles, additional nanoscale particles, e. g. hydrophilic silica or colloids polystyrene (PS), are incorporated into Pickering emulsion droplets to form a tritemplate system for synthesizing multilevel carbon or silica microspheres containing many internal subcompartments. , Unlike the unstable small oil drops within large Pickering emulsion droplet, the nanoparticles always reside in the Pickering emulsion droplet interior for templating the subcompartments. Besides structural tuning by precursor amount, the dosage of internal nanoparticles is another parameter for rational controlling the number of inner nanocompartments.…”

“…Another key factor for this droplet-confined assembly is the strong interaction force between encapsulated nanoparticles to bind them together for sustaining the assembled structures . A binder additive, e.g., tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA), or sol–gel reaction may be used to enhance the mechanical strength of the derived superparticles. , In addition, the assemblies of functional materials, e.g., carbon nanotubes (CNTs), can be immobilized within emulsion droplet-derived particles via polymerization. , In principle, Pickering emulsion droplets are capable of accommodating this bottom-up assembly process for generating multilevel-structured particles. Only one or possibly two or more types of nanoparticles can be encapsulated into Pickering emulsion droplets, providing a flexibility in tuning components and internal structures of superparticles .…”

“…(C) Illustration of organic solvents adsorption by multicompartmentalized carbon microspheres. Reproduced with permission from (A) ref, copyright 2022 Nature Portfolio; (B) ref, copyright 2019 Nature Portfolio; (C) ref, copyright 2023 Elsevier.…”