One-step carbonization synthesis of in-situ nitrogen-doped carbon tubes using fibrous brucite as the template for supercapacitors

In-situ nitrogen-doped hollow tubular porous carbon (N-PC) was synthesized by using polyvinylpyrmlidone (PVP) as a source of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) and fibrous brucite as a template via one-step high-temperature carbonization for the first time. The influences of carbonization temperature and the amount of PVP used on the electrochemical performances of N-PCs have been studied. Electrochemical characterizations exhibit that the N-PC700-0.5 has the high specific capacitance (236.6 F/g at a current density of 0.5 A/g), excellent rate capacity (77.8% at the current density of 10 A/g from 0.5 A/g), and preferable cyclic stability (93.40% capacitance retention rate after 1000 GCD cycles at 5 A/g). Hence, N-PC700-0.5 could be used as an excellent candidate for supercapacitors (SCs). Besides, the N-PCs possess a hollow tubular structure similar to carbon nanotubes (CNTs). This work provides possibilities for preparing nitrogen-doped CNT in a facile and low-cost strategy.