Unusual Assembly and Conversion of Graphene Quantum Dots into Crystalline Graphite Nanocapsules

The development of a facile strategy for conversion of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) into crystalline graphite is of great practical significance and still remains challenging. Herein, rationally assembled crystalline-intercrossed graphite nanocapsules (CI-GNCs) have been realized by a one-step electrochemically induced strategy with the assistance of a soft template, in which the GQDs act as the initial building blocks. The as-prepared CI-GNCs exhibit highly crystalline graphitic nanostructures. Moreover, they possess promising electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen reaction reduction (ORR) in alkaline medium. This simple fabrication technology presents a great advance for synthesizing CI-GNCs composite catalysts, which have potential as new metal-free catalysts for efficient ORR applications.