Preparation and Li+ storage properties of hierarchical hollow porous carbon spheres

• HOPCS was prepared using HOMSS as a template.
• Ordering of pore stacking was attributed to tangential compression in spherical geometry.
• HOPCSs performed a high first specific capacity of 527.6 mA h/g and good cycle performance.

Hollow ordered porous carbon spheres (HOPCS) with a hierarchical structure were prepared by templating with hollow ordered mesoporous silica spheres (HOMSS). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that HOPCS exhibited a spherical hollow morphology. High-resolution TEM, small angle X-ray diffraction (SAXRD) and N2 sorption measurements confirmed that HOPCS inversely replicated the unconnected hexagonal-stacked pore structure of HOMSS, and possessed ordered porosity. HOPCS exhibited a higher storage capacity for Li+ ion battery (LIB) of 527.6 mA h/g, and good cycling performance. A large capacity loss during the first discharge–charge cycle was found attributed to the high content of micropores. The cycling performance was derived from the hierarchical structure.

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