Rational assembly of carbon nanostructures into large-area films is a key step to realize their applications in ubiquitous electronics and energy devices. Here, a self-assembly methodology is devised to organize diverse carbon nanostructures (nanotubes, dots, microspheres, etc.) into homogeneous films with potentially infinite lateral dimensions. On the basis of studies of the redox reactions in the systems and the structures of films, the spontaneous deposition of carbon nanostructures onto the surface of the copper substrate is found to be driven by the electrical double layer between copper and solution. As a notable example, the as-assembled multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) films display exceptional properties. They are a promising material for flexible electronics with superior electrical and mechanical compliance characteristics. Finally, two kinds of all-solid-state supercapacitors based on the self-assembled MWCNT films are fabricated. The supercapacitor using carbon cloth as the current collector delivers an energy density of 3.5 Wh kg−1 and a power density of 28.1 kW kg−1, which are comparable with the state-of-the-art supercapacitors fabricated by the costly single-walled carbon nanotubes and arrays. The supercapacitor free of foreign current collector is ultrathin and shows impressive volumetric energy density (0.58 mWh cm−3) and power density (0.39 W cm−3) too.

The hierarchically shaped CuO-CeO2 composites were prepared through a facile solvothermal method without using any template. The as-prepared products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and N2 adsorption–desorption analysis. In the characterization, we found that CuO-CeO2 composites were showed uniform size and morphology which were consisted of the secondary nanoflakes interconnected with each other. Most interestingly, the composites showed efficient performance to remove methyl blue and Congo red dyes from water with maximum adsorption capacities of 2131.24 and 1072.09 mg g−1, respectively. In addition, because of their larger surface area and the unique hierarchical structures, the adsorption performance of the CuO-CeO2 composites is much better than the materials of CuO and CeO2.

In this work, novel CeCO3OH@C nanocomposites were prepared via a one-pot approach by hydrothermal carbonization of a solution of glucose as a carbon precursor in the presence of Ce(NO3)3·6H2O and urea. It was found that glucose not only facilitates the formation of CeCO3OH nanoparticles, but also leads to a uniform, glucose-derived, carbon-rich polysaccharide (GCP) overlayer on the CeCO3OH nanocomposites. By adjusting the concentrations of glucose, the morphology of the samples was transformed from spindle nanoparticles to uniform spherical particles. CeO2@C with a core–shell structure was fabricated after calcining the CeCO3OH@C nanospheres under an N2 atmosphere. The obtained products were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, TG-DSC, FT-IR and charge–discharge test. The electrochemical performance test showed that these CeO2@C core–shell spheres as an anode material for lithium ion batteries exhibited an initial discharge specific capacity of 863.0 mA h g−1 in the potential range of 3.0–0.0 V. After 50 cycles, the capacity of the CeO2@C core–shell spheres was stabilized reversibly at about 355.0 mA h g−1. The improved cycling performance was attributed to the carbon shells, which can enhance the conductivity of the CeO2 core and suppress the aggregation of active particles during cycling. These CeO2@C core–shell spheres are promising anode materials for lithium ion batteries.

•Hollow perovskite-type LaCoO3 is fabricated by green colloidal template method.•Carbonaceous colloids acted as templates and offered internal heat source.•The calcination temperature to form perovskite-type LaCoO3 was dropped to 550 °C.•The photocatalytic properties were studied upon UV irradiation.•Hollow perovskite-type LaCoO3 shows excellent photocatalytic activity on dyes.Hollow perovskite-type LaCoO3 was successfully fabricated by surface-ion adsorption method utilizing the carbonaceous colloids as template under relatively low calcination temperature. Carbonaceous colloids not only acted as templates but also offered internal heat source during calcination process. The impact of calcined temperature and time on the structure and morphology of the product were studied and the possible formation process of perovskite-type LaCoO3 hollow spheres was illustrated. The obtained product was characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, TG-DSC, ICP-OES, BET and UV–visible absorption spectra. The photocatalytic activities for degradation of methylene blue, methyl orange and neutral red were tested. The good photocatalytic degradation activity of the three different dyes and the band gap of 2.07 eV make it a promising candidate material for photocatalytic applications.

Lanthanum oxycarbonate (La2O2CO3) hollow microspheres with novel porous architectures were successfully fabricated by a simple one-pot hydrothermal treatment of an aqueous solution containing glucose, La(NO3)3·6H2O, and subsequent calcination. The as-prepared La2O2CO3 porous hollow spheres are composed of nanoparticles with a mean particle size of 15 nm. Carbon microspheres act as not only templates but also carbon sources for the formation of La2O2CO3 hollow spheres. Interestingly, the as-prepared La2O2CO3 hollow spheres show a green emission band under UV excitation, which may be used as fluorescent biological labels.Graphical abstract.Research highlights▶ Porous hollow La2O2CO3 microspheres have been synthesized via a one-pot hydrothermal treatment. ▶ Carbon microspheres act as not only templates but also carbon sources. ▶ La2O2CO3 hollow spheres show a green emission band under UV excitation.

•LaFeO3 nanoparticles sub–10 nm were successfully immobilized on monodisperse carbon spheres for the first time through a facile and environmental friendly ultrasonic assisted surface ions adsorption method.•LaFeO3/C nanocomposite exhibits much higher photo-Fenton like catalytic activity than LaFeO3.•The superior property was attributed to the synergistic effects from the photo-Fenton like process and the presence of monodisperse carbon spheres.LaFeO3 nanoparticles immobilized on the surface of monodisperse carbon spheres have been obtained through a facile and environmentally friendly ultrasonic assisted surface ions adsorption method. The LaFeO3/C nanocomposite was evaluated as photo-Fenton like catalyst for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation (λ > 420 nm). The LaFeO3/C nanocomposite possesses high specific surface area compared with pure LaFeO3 and significantly enhanced photo-Fenton like catalytic performance. The possible formation process of the LaFeO3/C nanocomposite and the mechanism for photo-Fenton like reaction were discussed. The superior property was attributed to the synergistic effects from the photo-Fenton like process and the presence of carbon spheres. In addition, the heterogeneous process led to better recyclability of this type of catalyst.

4-(imidazol-1-yl) benzoic acid (HL, L=C10H7N2O2), Copper sulfate, and sodium azide were selected as precursors, an interesting case of magnetic field-induced change in the final product of molecule-magnetic materials was observed. Without external magnetic field, the only green single crystal G [Cu5(C10H7N2O2)4 (N3)2(SO4)2]n was prepared, but under 0.2 T external magnetic field, the other blue violet single crystal B [Cu(C10H7N2O2)2]n was found beside the green single crystal G. The product prepared under magnetic field comprises ca 34% B and 66% G. It indicates that the magnetic field induction is a dominating factor to the final product of self-assembly reaction for the metal-organic complex. The experiments have suggested a kind of effective control means to fabricate new molecule-magnetic materials under mild magnetic field induction.Highlights► A new transfer state is emerged under magnetic field induction. ► Magnetic field induction is a dominating factor to the final product of self-assembly reaction for metal-organic complex. ► An important method to fabricate new molecule-magnetic materials under mild magnetic field induction.

In this work, novel CeCO3OH@C nanocomposites were prepared via a one-pot approach by hydrothermal carbonization of a solution of glucose as a carbon precursor in the presence of Ce(NO3)3·6H2O and urea. It was found that glucose not only facilitates the formation of CeCO3OH nanoparticles, but also leads to a uniform, glucose-derived, carbon-rich polysaccharide (GCP) overlayer on the CeCO3OH nanocomposites. By adjusting the concentrations of glucose, the morphology of the samples was transformed from spindle nanoparticles to uniform spherical particles. CeO2@C with a core–shell structure was fabricated after calcining the CeCO3OH@C nanospheres under an N2 atmosphere. The obtained products were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, TG-DSC, FT-IR and charge–discharge test. The electrochemical performance test showed that these CeO2@C core–shell spheres as an anode material for lithium ion batteries exhibited an initial discharge specific capacity of 863.0 mA h g−1 in the potential range of 3.0–0.0 V. After 50 cycles, the capacity of the CeO2@C core–shell spheres was stabilized reversibly at about 355.0 mA h g−1. The improved cycling performance was attributed to the carbon shells, which can enhance the conductivity of the CeO2 core and suppress the aggregation of active particles during cycling. These CeO2@C core–shell spheres are promising anode materials for lithium ion batteries.