Polymerization under Hypersaline Conditions: A Robust Route to Phenolic Polymer-Derived Carbon Aerogels.
Polymer-derived carbon aerogels can be obtained by direct polymerization of monomers under hypersaline conditions using inorganic salts. This allows for significantly increased mechanical robustness and avoiding special drying processes. This concept was realized by conducting the polymerization of phenol-formaldehyde (PF) in the presence of ZnCl2salt. Afterwards, the simultaneous carbonization and foaming process conveniently converts the PF monolith into a foam-like carbon aerogel. ZnCl2plays a key role, serving as dehydration agent, foaming agent, and porogen. The carbon aerogels thus obtained are of very low density (25 mg cm-3), high specific surface area (1340 m2g-1), and have a large micro- and mesopore volume (0.75 cm3g-1). The carbon aerogels show very promising potential in the separation/extraction of organic pollutants and for energy storage.
Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Hefei Science Center of CAS, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
Zhi-Long
ZL
Yu
Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Hefei Science Center of CAS, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
Guan-Cheng
GC
Li
Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max-Planck-Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14424, Potsdam-Golm, Germany.
Nina
N
Fechler
Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Hefei Science Center of CAS, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
Ning
N
Yang
Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Hefei Science Center of CAS, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
Zhi-Yuan
ZY
Ma
Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Hefei Science Center of CAS, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
Xin
X
Wang
Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max-Planck-Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14424, Potsdam-Golm, Germany.
Markus
M
Antonietti
Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Hefei Science Center of CAS, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
Shu-Hong
0000-0003-3732-1011
SH
Yu
carbon aerogels; hypersaline conditions; phenol-formaldehyde resin; porosity; zinc dichloride