Fabrication of novel core-shell microspheres consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes and CaCO 3 through biomimetic mineralization

Crystallization of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the presence of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)/fullerodendron supramolecular nanocomposites in aqueous environments was carried out with a CO2 diffusion method to afford monodisperse spherical SWCNT/CaCO3 hybrids with a core-shell structure. The crystals nucleate at the carboxyl groups on the surface of SWCNT/fullerodendron supramolecular nanocomposites grow around a spherical scaffold made of the SWCNTs, and finally form spherical calcite crystals embedded and covered by the SWCNTs. After removing the SWCNTs by the calcination in an air flow at 800 °C, the morphology of the core-shell microsphere was maintained.