One-step synthesis of hollow nanostructured aniline oligomers and their derived nitrogen doped carbon

- Hollow nanostructured aniline oligomers were achieved via a one-step route.
- Copper acetate and p-phenylenediamine were used as oxidant and accelerator, respectively.
- The hollow aniline oligomers could be carbonized into nitrogen-doped carbons keeping well the hollow structure.
- The carbonized aniline oligomers presented good electrochemical performance.

Hollow nanostructured aniline oligomers are generated via a one-step route using copper acetate and p-phenylenediamine as oxidant and accelerator at room temperature. An Ostwald ripening process for the nuclei with high energy and low polymerization degree has been adopted for the cavity formation. The carbonized aniline oligomers with a well-maintained hollow structure presents a specific capacitance of 192 F g−1 at a current density of 2 A g−1 and 13% capacitance fading after 3000 cycles. In principles, the hollow structure can relieve the expansion/contraction of the electrode materials and the nitrogen doping properties can provide additional pseudocapacitance.

Hollow aniline oligomers were generated via a one-step route and further carbonized into N-doped carbon for application in electrode materials.131