Fabrication of nanoporous carbon by electrical transformation of amorphous carbon nanospheres

Nanoporous carbon nanospheres <150 nm in diameter have been fabricated for the first time by the transformation of amorphous carbon nanospheres under Joule heating. The process, initiated by current densities of 1.5-8 × 10(10) A m(-2), has been imaged in real time in situ in a transmission electron microscope. Significant atomic diffusion and carbon ordering results in the formation of a 3D network of buckled graphitic sheets bounding interlinked <5 nm diameter pores, with greatly enhanced conductivity. Porous carbon nanospheres offer new opportunities for biocompatible drug delivery, catalysis and energy storage.