Abstract: Methods for preparing porous carbon hollow spheres are disclosed. The method includes contacting one or more polymer hollow spheres with a SiO2 precursor to form one or more SiO2-containing polymer hollow spheres; carbonizing the one or more SiO2-containing polymer hollow spheres to form one or more SiO2-containing carbon hollow spheres; and removing SiO2 from the one or more SiO2-containing carbon hollow spheres to form one or more porous carbon hollow spheres. The prepared porous carbon hollow spheres may be filled with liquid metal salts and treated at elevated temperatures to form filled porous carbon spheres. Methods of filling the porous carbon hollow spheres and compositions that include the filled porous carbon spheres are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for preparing porous carbon hollow spheres are disclosed. The method includes contacting one or more polymer hollow spheres with a SiO2 precursor to form one or more SiO2-containing polymer hollow spheres; carbonizing the one or more SiO2-containing polymer hollow spheres to form one or more SiO2-containing carbon hollow spheres; and removing SiO2 from the one or more SiO2-containing carbon hollow spheres to form one or more porous carbon hollow spheres. The prepared porous carbon hollow spheres may be filled with liquid metal salts and treated at elevated temperatures to form filled porous carbon spheres. Methods of filling the porous carbon hollow spheres and compositions that include the filled porous carbon spheres are also disclosed.

Abstract: Composite materials that include halloysite tubes, and methods for their preparation and use are disclosed. The composite material includes an amount of halloysite tubes having one or more oxides, one or more hydroxides, or both, on at least a surface of the halloysite tubes. The composite material can be incorporated into electrodes and electrochemical storage devices.