Phase control of ordered mesoporous carbon synthesized by a soft-templating method

Ordered mesoporous carbons with different pore structures (COU-1 and COU-2) were synthesized by a soft-templating method using precursor solutions with different mass ratios of triblock copolymer Pluronic F127/resorcinol–formaldehyde (RF) resin. The precipitation of RF–F127 self-assembly was observed in the solution after a reaction at room temperature. The masses of the precipitate and unreacted RF and/or F127 dissolved in the solution were measured. Thermogravimetric analysis for the precipitate and the unreacted components was conducted under nitrogen atmosphere. These results indicate that one hydrophilic tail of Pluronic F127 molecule interacts with 70–100 resorcinol molecules for COU-1 and 45–65 resorcinol molecules for COU-2, respectively. The phase transition from COU-1 to COU-2 can be explained by an increase of a modified packing parameter (g value). The effect of the composition of the precursor solution not only on the pore structure and volume but also on the yield of the composite is quantitatively discussed.