Simple synthesis of thin-layered hollow carbon nanostructures by the direct pyrolysis of surfactants

•Hollow carbon nanospheres were synthesized via simple template method.•Metallic surfactants were directly carbonized in the synthesis.•This approach simplifies previous complicated template synthesis.

Thin-layered hollow carbon nanostructures were generated via the template method using metallic surfactants as the carbon precursor. Metallic surfactants play an important catalytic role in the direct carbonization due to the presence of metal cation. For example, sodium dodecyl sulfate was carbonized at 230 °C under a N2 atmosphere to generate carbonaceous materials, whereas the use of non-metallic surfactants led to decomposition without any residue rather than carbonization, due to the absence of a catalytic metal cation.