Comparison of porous carbons developed via templating approaches

Porous carbons synthesized from templates were characterized and compared. The synthesis consists of the impregnation of a C precursor within the voids of an inorg. template, followed by low temp. carbonisation and demineralization of the mineral-C composite. The templating systems studied were Mg-Al layered double hydroxides (Clay Templated C Route - CTC), zeolites (Zeolite Templated C Route - ZTC) and mesoporous mol. sieves (Mesoporous Mol. Sieve Templated C Route - MTC). The C materials were characterized and compared using scanning and TEM, elemental anal. and powder x-ray diffraction. N adsorption at 77 K was used to find the templated carbons' pore structure, using classical methods as well as the more recent D. Functional Theory approach for quantification of adsorption properties and a systematic detn. of pore size distributions. Results showed different micro/mesoporosities and high adsorption capacities for the carbons, showing potential for applications in gas and liq.-phase adsorptive applications. [on SciFinder (R)]