Fabrication of spindle Fe(2)O(3)@polypyrrole core/shell particles by surface-modified hematite templating and conversion to spindle polypyrrole capsules and carbon capsules.

By using a surface-modified templating method, Fe(2)O(3)@polypyrrole (PPy) core/shell spindles have been successfully prepared in this paper. The Fe(2)O(3) particles with spindle morphology were initially fabricated as core materials. After the PVP modification, the Fe(2)O(3) spindles were subsequently coated with a tunable thickness layer of PPy by in situ deposition of the conducting polymer from aqueous solution. Hollow PPy spindles were produced by dissolution of the Fe(2)O(3) core from the core/shell particles. High-temperature treatment under vacuum condition covert the hollow PPy spindles into carbon capsules by carbonization of the PPy shell. Transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the formation of the Fe(2)O(3)@PPy core/shell particles, PPy and carbon capsules with spindle morphology.