Hollow BCN microrods with hierarchical multichannel structure as a multifunctional material: Synergistic effects of structural topology and composition

Abstract

Abstract Both structural topology and composition strongly affect material properties and functionality, however, controlling both of them to achieve their synergic effects has been a long-sought goal. One-dimensional (1D) hollow structures have fantastic architectures and tunable physicochemical properties, but constructing them with desirable interiors and composition is extremely challenging. Here we report a facile and scalable approach, based on molecular self-assembly in water, for synthesizing hollow BCN microrods with hierarchical multichannel structure. The structural topology and composition of 1D hollow BCN are found to be easily tuned only by varying the annealing temperature. The multilevel interior structure and tunable composition make hollow BCN a multifunctional material, demonstrated by its impressive OER activity, high removal ability for heavy metals and organic pollutant. Specifically, its overpotential at a current density of 10\u202fmAcm−2 is about 350\u202fmV, outperforming the state-of-the-art precious-metal IrO2 catalyst, and its adsorption capacity for Cu2+ reaches up to a staggering 962.9\u202fmg/g due to the synergistic effects of structural topology and composition. Our study provides an exceptionally simple strategy to tailor the structural topology and composition of materials, which are attractive for many applications.