Template synthesis of tin-doped indium oxide (ITO)/polymer and the corresponding carbon composite hollow colloids

SnO2, In2O3, and Sn-doped In2O3 (ITO)/polymer and the corresponding carbon composite hollow colloids are template synthesized. It is essential that the sulfonated gel shell of the cross-linked polystyrene hollow colloid can favorably induce adsorption of target precursors. After being calcined in air to remove the template, SnO2, In2O3, and ITO hollow colloids are obtained. Because the cross-linked polymer gel can be transformed into carbon in nitrogen at higher temperature such as 800 °C, metal oxide/carbon hollow colloids are consequently derived, whose shells are mesoporous. The SnO2-, In2O3-, and ITO-containing polymer or carbon composite hollow colloids will be promising in sensors, catalysts, and fuel cells as electrode materials.