Ropore structure development in poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) derived carbons Original Research Article

Microporous carbons characterized by different structural properties were prepared by carbonization of poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) in a nitrogen flow at temperatures in the range of 500-850°C. The carbonization process and the microstructural characteristics of the carbonaceous materials obtained have been studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA), diffuse reflectance FT-IR spectroscopy, inverse gas chromatography at infinite dilution (IGC), and sorption experiments. The temperature controlled carbonization of poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) leads, in one step, to formation of microporous carbons without using additional activation procedures. The pore sizes of the materials obtained were limited to the range of 0.38-0.6 nm, with wider, and thus more heterogeneous, micropore size distributions at higher temperature of heat treatment. The conclusions obtained are derived from adsorption studies of methane under conditions when monolayer adsorption is dominant and thus direct information of adsorbate/adsorbent interactions as a function of microstructural changes during carbonization can be revealed. Consistency is found with data from the other techniques employed.