Facile Synthesis of Nanostructured Carbon through Self‐Assembly between Block Copolymers and Carbohydrates

Abstract

A simple and direct wet chemistry method is reported to simultaneously synthesize nanostructured carbon films and particles through self‐assembly of poly(styrene)‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PS‐P4VP) and carbohydrate precursors (turanose, raffinose, glucose, etc.) in two fabrication processes—spin‐coating and aerosol processing. Starting with a homogeneous solution containing PS‐P4VP and carbohydrates, evaporation of solvent during either spin‐coating or an aerosol process leads to the formation of ordered mesostructured films and particles. High temperature treatment in argon atmosphere removes PS fragments, carbonizes carbohydrates and partial PVP fragments, and results in ordered nanoporous carbon films and particles. SEM, TEM, and GISAXS characterization indicates that these nanostructured carbon materials exhibit large nanopores (> 20 nm), controlled 1–3 dimensional structures, and controlled surface chemistry. Nitrogen sorption isotherms and electrochemistry characterization indicates the accessibility of the carbon nanopores to both gas phase and aqueous phase. Results suggest that the nanostructured carbon films and particles can be tuned through solvent annealing, precursor concentration, and choice of block copolymers used. These carbon materials present varied practical applications for sorption and separation, sensors, electrode materials, etc.

Ultrathin Optically Transparent Carbon Electrodes Produced from Layers of Adsorbed Proteins

“…19-22 Although OTCE can be systematically fabricated by reduction at high temperature of photoresists; 20, 23-24 a precise control of the preparation conditions, specialized instrumentation, or expensive precursors 25-26 are typically required to strike an adequate balance between optical transparency and electrical resistivity of the films. 27-29 …”

Thin films of complexed block copolymers

“…to be used in catalytic applications. 154 Very recently, Son et al used a small amount of oleic acid (OA) to induce a perpendicular orientation in PS-b-PMMA thin films. As a surface active agent, OA segregated at the air interface, thereby providing neutral surface boundary conditions with respect to PS and PMMA.…”

Low-cost shape-control synthesis of porous carbon film on β″-alumina ceramics for Na-based battery application

“…It is seen that the addition of glucose shifts the peak at 1725 cm À1 remarkably to the higher energy side (1732 cm À1 and 1736 cm À1 ), at the same time, weakens the CeC and CeO bonds. The mentioned vibrational frequency shift and weakened peaks are supposed to form the hydrogen bonds between the hydroxyl groups of glucose and the carbonyl oxygens of PMMA, which was also proved in other carbon precursors and polymer systems [21,23]. It is found that the heat treatment to some extent promotes the formation of the hydrogen bonds, leading to further shift of the peaks and even the disappearance of the peaks of eCH 3 bonds.…”

“…In addition, solegel processes, usually with environmental pollutants [20], and soft-template routes based on self-assembly between costly block copolymers and carbohydrates [21,22] have also been employed. However, porous carbon films on substrates were seldom studied [23].…”