A facile and straightforward approach is developed for the construction of graphene-based hollow spheres. An electron rich sodium-ammonia solution is used to effectively restore the π-conjugation of graphene. The hollow spheres exhibit excellent electrocatalytic activity towards oxygen reduction without catalyst deactivation.

An Ag(2)ZnGeO(4) photocatalyst was fabricated by ion-exchange reaction between amorphous Zn(2)GeO(4) suspension and Ag(+) solutions. The Ostwald ripening effect induced the formation of hierarchical hollow spheres. Compared with the reference bulk Ag(2)ZnGeO(4), the hierarchical Ag(2)ZnGeO(4) hollow spheres showed enhanced photocatalytic activity.

Herein we report the synthesis and characterization of hollow silica spheres with a narrow size distribution, uniform wall thickness, and a worm-like pore structure. The formation of these spheres was monitored by confocal laser scanning microscopy and dynamic light scattering. A model for the molecular build-up of these silica hollow spheres is derived from these data in combination with studi...

In this paper we study the combined effects of size and shape of small solid state particles on the absorption, emission and scattering characteristics. We use the statistical approach to calculate these optical properties. In this approach the average optical properties of an ensemble of particles in random orientation are represented by the average optical properties of an ensemble of simple ...

Hollow spheres, hollow capsules and solid spheres of carbon were selectively synthesized by Mg-reduction of hexachlorobutadiene at appropriate reaction conditions. X-ray powder diffraction and Raman spectra reveal that the as-prepared materials have a well-ordered structure. A possible formation mechanism has been proposed.

Mesporous anatase-phase TiO(2) hollow spheres with high photocatalytic activity were prepared by hydrothermal treatment and self-transformation of amorphous TiO(2) solid spheres in an NH(4)F aqueous solution. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, N(2) adsorption-desorption isotherms and UV-v...

A simple route based on time-dependent growth was employed to synthesize solid and hollow spheres of Pd/Fe(3)O(4) nanocomposite. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) imaging shows that the spheres are composed of nanocrystals with the solid spheres having a diameter of 533 nm whereas the hollow ones having a diameter of 520 nm and a shell thickness of 100 nm. An assembly-then-growth mechanis...

UNLABELLED A newly developed route for the synthesis of hollow carbon nanospheres without introducing template under hydrothermal conditions was reported. Hollow carbon nanospheres with the diameter of about 100 nm were synthesized using alginate as reagent only. Many instruments were applied to characterize the morphologies and structures of carbon hollow nanospheres, such as XRD, TEM, and Ram...