title: Synthesis and properties of phloroglucinol-phenol-formaldehyde carbon aerogels and xerogels.
abstract: Carbon aerogels and xerogels were successfully prepared from phloroglucinol-phenol mixtures and characterized by different techniques to determine their potential. We examined the influence of the phloroglucinol/phenol ratio, reactant concentration, cure conditions, and drying method on the morphology and porosity of the samples. The gelation time was found to be independent of the phloroglucinol/phenol ratio in spite of the different reactivities of both monomers. In general, carbon aerogels have a high volume of mesopores and of micropores without diffusion restrictions. Carbon xerogels are denser materials without mesopores but with a well-developed microporosity that shows a strong molecular sieve effect. Therefore, while micro-/mesoporous carbon aerogels can be used as catalyst supports or VOC adsorbents, the microporous carbon xerogel could offer high selectivity in the separation of small molecules from gaseous mixtures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jirglová
authors.forename: Agustín F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Pérez-Cadenas
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Maldonado-Hódar