Spindle-like hierarchical carbon structure grown from polyhydroxyalkanoate/ferrocene/chloroform precursor

A spindle-like hierarchical carbon structure of submicron dimensions is synthesized by floating catalytic deposition using a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)/ferrocene/chloroform precursor. The electron microscopic morphology characterizations demonstrate that as-prepared carbon micro-spindle (CMS) comprises three components: two symmetric carbon cones formed by curved graphitic filaments consisted of randomly orientated graphene layers, and one middle catalyst plate with a rough surface. CMSs only grow on large catalyst plates with complicated surface microstructures. Chlorine is employed to tune the crystallinity of the catalyst, leading to a rough surface of the catalyst plate. Graphene layers are deposited parallel to the catalyst surface. Carbon spindles sharing the same catalyst plate form CMS clusters. The electrochemical performance of CMSs is further investigated, showing good capacitance properties with excellent cycling stability, indicating its application potential in energy storage devices.