Synthesis of submicron size hollow carbon spheres by a chemical reduction — solvothermal method using carbon tetrachloride as carbon source

A simple, rapid and energy efficient approach based on copper mediated chemical reduction — solvothermal method was employed to prepare submicron size hollow carbon spheres (SHCS) using carbon tetrachloride as carbon source. The obtained SHCS were characterized by means of various physico-chemical techniques like nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements at 77 K, XRD, SEM, TEM, EDX and FT-Raman techniques. Thus characterized samples displayed macroporous nature of carbon with carbon and chloride contents of about 73% and 12% on atomic basis respectively. The presence of chloride content may open new avenues for surface modifications of SHCS in the area of catalysis and separation science.