X-ray analysis of carbon nanostructures helps material design

Nanostructures made of carbon are extremely versatile: they can absorb ions in batteries and supercapacitors, store gases, and desalinate water. How well they cope with the task at hand depends largely on the structural features of the nanopores. A new study has now shown that structural changes that occur due to morphology transition with increasing temperature of the synthesis can also be measured directly -- using small-angle X-ray scattering.