Novel Fe3O4 nanoparticles encapsulated in and loaded on hollow carbon nanotubes wrapped dendritic carbon layers architecture for water decomposition

In this work, a new type of Fe3O4 nanoparticles encapsulated in and loaded on hollow carbon nanotubes (HCNTs) wrapped dendritic carbon layers (DCL) architecture were synthesized successfully by a simple method. In the preparation process, hollow polypyrrole (PPy) tubes were used as the base material, iron phthalocyanine (FePc) was applied as iron and carbon source, and the iron in FePc was successfully reduced to Fe3O4 by the reducibility of hydrogen peroxide which were successfully embedded in the hollow PPy tubes and loaded on the outer wall of the PPy tubes. Meanwhile, phthalocyanine, as a carbon source, was wrapped in the outer layer of hollow PPy. After calcination, a carbon layer coated with Fe3O4 nanoparticles was formed. Moreover, iron as a precursor catalyzed to take shape dendritic carbon layers structure during high temperature calcination. Ultimately, the novel Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated in HCNTs and encapsulated in dendritic carbon layers have been successfully prepared which have a relatively unique morphology and structure by an innovative, green and simple preparation method. Fe3O4 nanoparticles are not only embedded in the interior of HCNTs, but also loaded on the outer wall of HCNTs. Greater specific surface area and better electrocatalytic performance are displayed in acquired 2Fe3O4@N-HCNT@2Fe3O4@DCL in oxygen evolution reactions (OER) and hydrogen evolution reactions (HER). In this work, a novel method of metal oxide embedding into void internal structure is developed, and a relatively new morphology is obtained, which provides a new train of thought for the progress of material preparation.