Competition among Refined Hollow Structures in Schiff Base Polymer Derived Carbon Microspheres

Synthetic polymer-derived hollow carbon spheres have greatutilitarian value in manyfields for which the synthesis of proper polymerprecursors is a key process. The exploration of new suitable polymer precursorsand the construction of refined hollow structures in emerging polymers are bothof great significance for synthetic methodology and novel carbon materials. Here,for thefirst time Schiffbase polymer (SBP) colloid spheres with refined hollowstructures were synthesized by tandem gradient growth and confined polymer-ization processes. The Hill equation was employed as a mathematical model toexplain the gradient growth of SBP spheres. The size-dependent inner structure ofSBP spheres can be adjusted from hollow to multichamber-surrounded hollow,and then to a multichamber structure. SBP-derived carbon spheres having similarsurface area and chemical composition but different inner structures provide aneffective way to investigate the relationship between inner structure and performance.