Direct synthesis of uniform mesoporous carbons from the carbonization of as-synthesized silica/triblock copolymer nanocomposites Original Research Article

Mesocellular carbon foams and ordered mesoporous carbon materials were synthesized from the direct carbonization of as-synthesized silica/triblock copolymer nanocomposites. As-synthesized silica (MCF, SBA-15)/triblock copolymer nanocomposite was treated with sulfuric acid to cross-link the triblock copolymers and the resulting silica/cross-linked triblock copolymer nanocomposite was carbonized, followed by the removal of silica to produce final mesoporous carbon. In the current direct synthesis of mesoporous carbons, P123 triblock copolymer was employed as both a carbon precursor and a structure-directing agent. Moreover, it is possible to synthesize ordered mesoporous carbon materials from the direct carbonization of mesostructured silica/triblock copolymer nanocomposites by performing the acid catalyzed sol–gel polymerization using sulfuric acid instead of hydrochloric acid.