Abstract: The present document describes a carbon allotrope-silica composite material comprising a silica microcapsule comprising a silica shell having a thickness of from about 50 nm to about 500 ?m, and a plurality of pores, said shell forming a capsule having a diameter from about 0.2 ?m to about 1500 ?m, and having a density of about 0.001 g/cm3 to about 1.0 g/cm3, wherein said shell comprises from about 0% to about 70% Q3 configuration, and from about 30% to about 100% Q4 configuration, or wherein said shell comprises from about 0% to about 60% T2 configuration and from about 40% to about 100% T3 configuration, or wherein said shell comprises a combination of T and Q configurations thereof, and wherein an exterior surface of said capsule is covered by a functional group; a carbon allotrope attached to said silica microcapsule.

Abstract: The present document describes a carbon allotrope-silica composite material comprising a silica microcapsule comprising a silica shell having a thickness of from about 50 nm to about 500 ?m, and a plurality of pores, said shell forming a capsule having a diameter from about 0.2 ?m to about 1500 and having a density of about 0.001 g/cm3 to about 1.0 g/cm3, wherein said shell comprises from about 0% to about 70% Q3 configuration, and from about 30% to about 100% Q4 configuration, or wherein said shell comprises from about 0% to about 60% T2 configuration and from about 40% to about 100% T3 configuration, or wherein said shell comprises a combination of T and Q configurations thereof, and wherein an exterior surface of said capsule is covered by a functional group; a carbon allotrope attached to said silica microcapsule.