Synthesis and characterization of graphitic carbon with hollow structures

Graphitic carbon with a hollow structure (GHS) was hydrothermally prepared at 600 °C by a one-pot method by the pyrolysis of ethanol, with cobalt acetate as catalyst. The characteristics of the samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscropy and Raman spectroscopy. Results show that as-synthesized samples had hollow structures with high graphitization degree. A possible mechanism for GHS formation by the method is proposed.