Exploring the Silent Aspect of Carbon Nanopores

Abstract

Recently, owing to the discovery of graphene, porous carbons experienced a revitalization in their explorations. However, nowadays, the focus is more on search for suitable energy advancing catalysts sensing, energy storage or thermal/light absorbing features than on separations. In many of these processes, adsorption, although not emphasized sufficiently, can be a significant step. It can just provide a surface accumulation of molecules used in other application-driving chemical or physical phenomena or can be even an additional mechanism adding to the efficiency of the overall performance. However, that aspect of confined molecules in pores and their involvement in the overall performance is often underrated. In many applications, nanopores might silently advance the target processes or might very directly affect or change the outcomes. Therefore, the objective of this communication is to bring awareness to the role of nanopores in carbon materials, and also in other solids, to scientists working on cutting-edge application of nonporous carbons, not necessary involving the adsorption process directly. It is not our intention to provide a clear explanation of the small pore effects, but we rather tend to indicate that such effects exist and that their full explanation is complex, as complex is the surface of nanoporous carbons.

Low-temperature oxidative removal of gaseous formaldehyde by an eggshell waste supported silver-manganese dioxide bimetallic catalyst with ultralow noble metal content

“…The surface-bound organic matter (e.g., protein) in the eggshell could be liberated during the calcination step to yield a higher surface area than the CaCO3 counterpart [26,39]. In line with the above discussion, it has been previously reported that such pores and defects often determine the overall catalytic activity [22,72]. The best-performing catalyst (Ag-1.5%-MnO2/Eggshell-R) was utilized for further experiments to evaluate the effect of process variables on FA oxidation.…”

Aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy of a non-graphitizing carbon

“…If the structure shown in figure 7 is correct it has consequences for understanding the properties of microporous carbons. Whether they are employed as adsorbents or in other applications such as lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors, the properties of the carbons depend critically on the size and shape of the pores [38,39]. A very common assumption in modelling studies of microporous carbons is that the pores are slit-shaped, i.e.…”

Carbon-Based Nanocatalysts (CnCs) for Biomass Valorization and Hazardous Organics Remediation

“…On the regards of environmental remediation applications, other kind of carbonaceous materials, especially based on porous carbon or/and biochar, was shown to have ultimately high adsorptive capability against not only organic pollutants, but also against (heavy) metals [ 161 , 162 ]. The recent trend on materials design is to utilize undesired biomass and wastes as feedstock and after thermal treatment (carbonization) or/and activation to obtain bulky carbons/biochars [ 20 , 163 , 164 , 165 ] with the ultimate goal of the final material to possess high surface chemistry heterogeneity, high porosity and ultimately a micro-/nano-porous nature [ 12 , 13 ]. However, this aspect is outside the scope of this work, since the literature is very abundant in this kind of high value reviews and research articles.…”

“…Activated porous carbons or biochar (APCs), although not considered as nanomaterials, have attracted research interest and have reached wide commercialization in the fields of adsorbent and catalyst manufacturing. The properties of APCs that make them ideal for such applications are their tunable surface chemistry, the high surface area and pore volume induced by the nanosized micro/mesopores, and their exceptional chemical and dimensional stability in aqueous or various organic media [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. In general, the APCs can be obtained via various synthetic approaches/routes.…”