A family of ordered mesoporous carbons derived from mesophase pitch using ordered mesoporous silicas as templates

A variety of ordered mesoporous carbons (OMCs) were synthesized using ordered mesoporous silicas (OMSs) as hard templates and the mesophase pitch (MP) as a carbon precursor. The synthesis included the mixing of OMS with MP, the infiltration of OMS with MP at 450–550?°C and the carbonization of MP in OMS/MP composite followed by the dissolution of the OMS template. OMCs with structures of two-dimensional hexagonal arrays of nanorods and three-dimensional arrays of nanospheres were obtained through the replication of silica templates, including large-pore SBA-15, KIT-6, large-pore FDU-12 and SBA-16. In particular, 2-D hexagonal array of carbon nanorods (CMK-3 carbon) with (100) interplanar spacing of ～13 nm as well as an array of carbon nanospheres arranged in the face-centered cubic structure with the unit-cell parameter of 33 nm were successfully prepared. The specific surface areas of the resulting carbons were up to 400 m²/g, and the total pore volumes were up to 0.43 cm³/g, with the highest values achieved when the MP infiltration temperature was 500?°C. The OMCs exhibited narrow mesopore size distributions. As inferred from XRD, the frameworks of OMCs featured semi-graphitic structures even though moderate carbonization temperature (850?°C) was employed.     

Synthesis of carbon tubes with mesoporous wall structure using designed silica tubes as templates

Hollow silica tubes with mesoporous wall structure were synthesized through the sol-gel reactions of tetraethoxysilane and n-octadecyltrimethoxysilane (TEOS/C18-TMS) on the surface of ammonium dl-tartrate crystals. Novel hollow carbon tubes with mesoporous walls and rectangular-shaped channels were fabricated using the silica tubes as templates.     

Synthesis of lamellar mesoporous silica materials using LCs as templates

The study focuses on the synthesis of mesoporous silica materials using liquid crystals (LCs) formed in an aqueous mixture of cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as templates and tetrathoxysilane (TEOS) as precursor. For this purpose, the phase behavior and range of LC areas were determined at different temperatures, concentrations, and ratios of CTAB/SDS. It was found that LCs became denser with the increased of concentration of surfactants. The mesoporous materials were synthesized using LCs as templates at various temperatures, surfactant concentrations, and pH values. The mesoporous samples were characterized using SEM and nitrogen sorption analysis. The research results showed that the structure of synthesized samples were lamellar and their surface areas increased significantly with the increase of temperature in the temperature range of LCs, reaching about 900?m²/g at 60°C. The surfactant concentrations affect the thickness of pore wall and thereby the specific surface area of products. The specific surface area and the order of mesoporous sample increased gradually with the decrease of pH.     

Adsorption and structural properties of ordered mesoporous carbons synthesized by using various carbon precursors and ordered siliceous P6mm and Ia3d mesostructures as templates

Adsorption and structural properties of inverse carbon replicas of two ordered siliceous P6mm and Ia3d mesostructures have been studied by nitrogen adsorption, powder X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. These carbon replicas were prepared by filling the pores of SBA-15 and KIT-6 siliceous templates with various carbon precursors followed by carbonization and silica dissolution. Sucrose, furfuryl alcohol, acenaphthene, mesophase pitch, and petroleum pitch were used to obtain inverse carbon replicas of SBA-15 and KIT-6. While structural properties of the resulting ordered mesoporous carbons are mainly determined by the hard template used, their adsorption properties depend on the type of the carbon precursor.     

Synthesis of highly-ordered mesoporous silica particles using mixed cationic and anionic surfactants as templates

We applied a molecular assembly formed in an aqueous surfactant mixture of cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and anionic sodium octylsulfate (SOS) as templates of mesoporous silica materials. The hexagonal pore size can be controlled between 3.22 and 3.66 nm with the mixed surfactant system. In addition, we could observe the lamellar structure of the mixed surfactants with precursor molecules, which strongly shows the possibility of precise control of both the pore size and the structure of pores by changing the mixing ratio of surfactants. Moreover, use of the cationic surfactant having longer hydrophobic chain like stearyltrimethylammonium bromide (STAB) caused the increase in d(100) space and shifted the point of phase transition from hexagonal phase to lamellar phase to lower concentration of SOS.     

Reversible replication between ordered mesoporous silica and mesoporous carbon

Highly ordered mesoporous silica can be regenerated from a mesoporous carbon CMK-3 that is a negative replica of mesoporous silica SBA-15, indicating reversible replication between carbon and inorganic materials.     

Synthesis and adsorption properties of colloid-imprinted mesoporous carbons using poly(vinylidene chloride-co-vinyl chloride) as a carbon precursor

A facile synthesis of micro- and mesoporous carbons has been proposed using colloidal silica nanoparticles with diameter of ∼24 nm and poly(vinylidene chloride-co-vinyl chloride) (Saran) as a carbon precursor. The resulting carbons possessed large specific surface area, ∼800 m²/g, and approximately the same volume of micro- and mesopores, each about 50% of the total pore volume. While the size of micropores was around 1 nm, the large and uniform spherical mesopores (about 24 nm) resemble the diameters of silica colloids used. Nitrogen adsorption measurements proved that these mesopores were interconnected and accessible. The well-developed microporosity was created mainly by decomposition of Saran copolymer during carbonization.     

Synthesis of rod-like mesoporous silica with hexagonal appearance using sodium silicate as precursor

Using sodium silicate as precursor, rod-like mesoporous silica with hexagonal appearance was synthesized by controlling the pH value of a mixed micelles solution of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) during hydrolysis of ethyl acetate. The resulting mesoporous silica was characterized by small angle X-ray diffraction, nitrogen gas adsorption-desorption measurement and scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that the regular rod-like shapes with hexagonal appearance were obtained at a 9:1 molar ratio of CTAB to CTAC, and that the amounts and lengths of the rod-like mesoporous silica particles decreased with decreasing CTAB to CTAC molar ratio. There existed a type IV adsorption isotherm and an H1 hysteresis loop in N₂ gas adsorption-desorption curves.     

Synthesis of thermally stable mesoporous cerium oxide with nanocrystalline frameworks using mesoporous silica templates

Highly ordered mesoporous cerium oxides, composed of nanocrystalline pore walls and exhibiting high thermal stability even at 973 K, were synthesized using mesoporous silica templates with hexagonal p6mm and cubic Ia3d symmetries.     

Graphitized pitch-based carbons with ordered nanopores synthesized by using colloidal crystals as templates

A highly graphitized ordered nanoporous carbon (ONC) was synthesized by using commercial mesophase pitch as carbon precursor and siliceous colloidal crystal as template. Since silica colloids of different sizes (above 6 nm) and narrow particle size distribution are commercially available, the pore size tailoring in the resulting ONCs is possible.     

Synthesis of Co-containing mesoporous carbon foams using a new cobalt-oxo cluster as a precursor

A novel trinuclear cobalt-oxo cluster 2[Co₃O(Ac)₆(H₂O)₃]·H₂O (Co-OXO) has been obtained and characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction and elemental analysis. The structure of Co-OXO displays 3D supramolecular networks through hydrogen bonds and generates boron nitride (bnn) topology. Co-OXO was further used as a precursor to synthesize Co-containing mesoporous carbon foams (Co-MCFs), which exhibit highly ordered mesostructure with specific surface area of 614 m² g^?1 and uniform pore size of 2.7 nm. Charge–discharge tests show that the specific discharge capacitance of Co-MCFs is 7% higher than that of the MCFs at the current density of 100 mA g^?1, and 26% higher than that of MCFs at the current density of 3 A g^?1. The electrochemical behaviors of Co-MCFs are obviously improved due to the improved wettability, increased graphitization degree and the pseudo-capacitance through additional faradic reactions arising from cobalt.     

Synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical properties of ordered mesoporous carbons containing nickel oxide nanoparticles using sucrose and nickel acetate in a silica template

New ordered mesoporous carbons containing nickel oxide nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by carbonization of sucrose in the presence of nickel acetate inside SBA-15 mesoporous silica template. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption-desorption, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The NiO nanoparticles were embedded inside the mesoporous carbon framework due to the simultaneous pyrolysis of nickel acetate during carbonization. The electrochemical testing of the as-made nanocomposites showed a large specific capacitance of 230 F g⁻¹ using 2 M KOH as the electrolyte at room temperature. This is attributed to the nanometer-sized NiO formed inside mesoporous carbons and the high surface area of the mesopores in which the NiO nanoparticles are formed. Furthermore, the synthetic process is proposed as a simple and general method for the preparation of new functionalized mesoporous carbon materials, for various applications in catalysis, sensor or advanced electrode material.     

The characteristics of highly ordered mesoporous carbons as electrode material for electrochemical sensing as compared with carbon nanotubes

In this paper, the unique properties of highly ordered mesoporous carbons modified glassy carbon electrode (OMCs/GE) are illustrated from comparison with carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode (CNTs/GE) for the electrochemical sensing applications. Electrochemical behaviors of eight kinds of inorganic and organic electroactive compounds were studied at OMCs/GE, which shows more favorable electron transfer kinetics than that at CNTs/GE. Especially, OMCs/GE exhibits remarkably strong and stable electrocatalytic response toward NADH compared with CNTs/GE. The ability of OMCs to promote electron transfer not only provides a new platform for the development of dehydrogenase-based bioelectrochemical devices, but also indicates a potential of OMCs in a wide range of sensing applications. OMCs prepared are the novel carbon electrode materials, exhibiting more favorable electrochemical reactivity than CNTs for the wide electrochemical sensing applications without pretreatments, while purification or end-opening processing was usually required in case of CNTs.     

Synthesis of alumina nanotubes using carbon nanotubes as templates

Alumina nanotubes have been fabricated using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as templates at 1473 K. The Al₂O₃ nanotubes are polycrystals. They are less than 100 nm in outer diameter and tens of nanometer in inner diameter, which is close to the outer diameters of the templates. Under certain conditions, AlN and Al₂O₃ nanowires can also be fabricated in this reaction system. Discussions on the growth mechanisms of these nanotubes and nanowires are presented.     

Synthesis of ordered mesoporous silica membrane on inorganic hollow fiber

This paper reports on a new method for the preparation of mesoporous silica membranes on alumina hollow fibers. A surfactant-silica sol is filled in the lumen of an alpha-alumina hollow fiber. The filtration technique combined with an evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) process results in the formation of a continuous ordered mesoporous silica layer on the outer side of alpha-alumina hollow fibers. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nitrogen isothermal adsorption measurements reveal that these membranes possess hexagonal (P6mm) mesostructures with pore diameters of 4.48 nm and BET surfaces of 492.3 m(2) g(-1). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies show that the layers are defect free and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) mapping images further confirm the formation of continuous mesoporous silica layer on the outer side of alpha-alumina hollow fibers. Nitrogen and hydrogen permeance tests show that the membranes are defect free.     

Synthesis of ordered mesoporous carbons with channel structure from an organic-organic nanocomposite

Mesoporous carbons with ordered channel structure (COU-1) have been successfully fabricated via a direct carbonization of an organic-organic nanocomposite.     

含氮前驱体对氮杂有序介孔炭材料及其氧还原电催化性能的影响

燃料电池中贵金属铂的大量使用是阻碍其发展的关键因素,亟需探索高效廉价的替代型电催化剂.在目前的替代型非贵金属催化剂研究中,氮杂炭材料是一类氧还原反应催化活性最好、成本最低廉的催化剂,被认为是最有可能取代Pt催化剂而获得实际应用的催化剂.氮杂有序介孔炭材料因具有极高的比表面积和规整的孔道结构,可实现活性位点的密集组装与反应物料的快速传输,受到研究者的广泛关注.本文分别以苯胺、吡咯和邻菲罗啉为含氮前驱体,介孔分子筛SBA-15为硬模板,采用纳米浇铸法成功制备了具有高比表面积的氮杂有序介孔炭材料,系统研究了不同含氮前驱体对氮杂有序介孔炭材料的影响.采用氮气吸附-脱附等温线、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)和X射线光电子能谱(XPS)等方法研究了氮杂有序介孔炭的组成与结构,采用循环伏安法(CV)以及线性扫描伏安法(LSV)等手段考察了其电化学行为与氧还原反应极化性能.氮气吸附-脱附等温线结果表明,采用三种不同含氮前驱体制备的氮杂炭材料都对应Ⅳ型吸脱附等温线以及H4型滞后环,表明所制备的氮杂炭材料具有介孔结构.由TEM可以清楚地观察到氮杂炭材料已经成功地反转了SBA-15模板的孔道结构.同时发现,含氮前驱体对氮杂炭材料的比表面积和孔结构产生较大影响:以吡咯和邻菲罗啉为前驱体制备的炭材料C-PY-900和C-Phen-900的比表面积较高,分别为765和746 m2/g,而以苯胺为前驱体制备的炭材料C-PA-900比表面积较小(569 m2/g);三种炭材料平均孔径大小顺序为C-Phen-900 (3.7 nm)＜ C-PY-900 (5.0 nm)＜ C-PA-900 (5.9 nm),这是由于不同含氮前驱体在高温焙烧过程中热分解行为不同所致.XRD结果发现,含氮前驱体对氮杂炭材料的晶型基本没有影响,均为无定形碳.XPS结果表明,采用苯胺、吡咯以及林菲啰啉为前驱体制备的氮杂炭材料中氮含量基本相同,分别为3.13 at％,3.32 at％和3.33 at％,说明在相同热解条件下材料中的氮含量基本不受前驱体的影响,但不同配位环境的氮含量以及氮活化碳原子的含量却有较大差异,其氮活化碳原子的相对含量分别为15.60％,19.87％和23.04％.电化学测试结果表明,三种氮杂介孔炭材料的氧还原反应电催化活性顺序为C-PA-900＜C-PY-900＜C-Phen-900,其H2O2产率低于30％,说明氧还原反应经历4电子转移路径.在碱性条件下,所制氮杂有序介孔炭材料C-PY-900和C-Phen-900表现出较商品Pt/C催化剂更加优异的氧还原反应电催化性能.综上可见,通过改变含氮前驱体的类型可以有效调变氮杂炭材料的比表面积、孔道结构以及N 1s与C 1s化学态,从而调控氧还原反应活性,本文不仅制备出高活性的非贵金属氧还原电催化剂,同时也为高活性炭基电催化剂的可控制备提供了思路.     

Synthesis and characterization of organic-inorganic hybrid mesoporous silica materials with new templates

1-Hexadecane-3-methylimidazolium bromide and 1-hexadecane-2,3-dimethylimidazolium bromide were used as new templates for the syntheses of periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) materials; using these new templates, ethane-bridged PMO materials were successfully synthesized and characterized under basic conditions.     

Synthesis of freestanding silica and titania-silica aerogels with ordered and disordered mesopores

Freestanding blocks of silica and titania-silica aerogels were prepared by the sol-gel method. It is possible to prepare crack-free, titania-silica aerogels with high titanium content by a careful control of the synthesis conditions. Prehydrolysis, complexation and polymer addition were used to adjust the hydrolysis and condensation rates of the silicon and titanium alkoxide precursors. Photoactive anatase TiO₂ nanocrystals with a large surface area (i.e., up to 300m²g⁻¹) were crystallized from the gel network by the high-temperature ethanol supercritical drying, and the resulting aerogel blocks were gas permeable and display a transition-regime diffusion behavior. Pore and volume shrinkages were observed in samples prepared by ethanol supercritical drying when the titanium content was increased resulting in a lower flux. Adding Pluronic P123 creates ordered mesopore domains and produces large pore aerogels even at high titanium contents. The photocatalytic oxidation reaction of trichloroethylene was performed by flowing the reactant gas mixture through the UV-irradiated aerogel blocks with excellent results.