Influence of surface-active agents on pore characteristics of the generated spherical resorcinol–formaldehyde based carbon aerogels Original Research Article

Spherical resorcinol–formaldehyde (RF) aerogel particles were synthesized by emulsion polymerization of resorcinol with formaldehyde in a slightly basic aqueous solution, followed by supercritical drying with carbon dioxide. The carbon aerogel particles were prepared by carbonizing the RF aerogel particles at a high temperature under a nitrogen atmosphere. We investigated the influence of the surface-active agents applied upon emulsion polymerization on the form, the size, and the characteristic pore structure of the generated carbon aerogel particles. We found an important relationship between the surface-active agents and the pore structure of the carbon aerogel particles; a lower hydrophile–lipophile balance (HLB) value of the surface active agent leaded to large micro and mesopore volumes and also a large specific surface area in the generated spherical carbon aerogel particles.