Preparation of Porous Carbons under Basic Condition by Soft Template Method for Carbon Capture

Microporous and mesoporous carbons have been prepared by a soft template method using 2,2′-biphenol as a precursor. The porosity of carbons could be controlled by varying the amount of block copolymer used as a soft template and the specific surface areas measured were as high as 648 m²/g with a pore volume of 0.43 cm³/g. The surface areas of prepared carbons were further increased up to 1778 m²/g with a pore volume of 0.75 cm³/g after heat treatment under ammonia gas environment. Although the prepared pristine carbons had lower surface areas than commercial activated carbon, they exhibited higher carbon dioxide (CO₂) adsorption capacity. The CO₂ adsorption capacity of ammonia-activated carbons further increased up to 2.98 mmol/g at ambient temperature and pressure.