Direct synthesis of shaped carbon nanoparticles with ordered cubic mesostructure

Shaped, mesoporous carbon nanoparticles (MSP-3) were prepared in high yield by a simple direct synthesis using a block copolymer surfactant as the mesopore-directing agent and a colloidal crystal to mold the external shape of the particles. The product consisted of monodisperse nanocubes and uniform nanospheres or tetrapods. The nanocubes contained regularly spaced, cagelike mesopores. The orientation of the cubic unit cell describing the mesopore symmetry coincided with the templated external cube faces.