Synthesis and characterization of core-shell selenium/carbon colloids and hollow carbon capsules

A novel Se/C nanocomposite with core-shell structures has been prepared through a facile one-pot microwave-induced hydrothermal process. The new material consists of a trigonal-Se (t-Se) core and an amorphous-C (a-C) shell. The Se/C composite can be converted to hollow carbon capsules by thermal treatment. These products were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).