Hierarchical porous graphitic carbon monoliths with detonation nanodiamonds: synthesis, characterisation and adsorptive properties

Abstract

The addition of nano-carbons to composite materials is an area of significant research interest, when their addition results in improved properties. This work reports on the use of detonation nanodiamond (DND) in the preparation of porous carbon monoliths and an investigation of the properties of the final carbon-nanocarbon composite material. Porous carbon-nanodiamond (CND) monoliths, with macro-, meso-and micropores were prepared by carbonisation of a resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) polymeric rod with an Fe(III) catalyst and spherical silica template. Pore characteristics and BET surface areas were determined from N 2 isotherms, with surface areas in the range of 214-461 m 2 g -1 , depending on DND content. SEM imaging further confirmed the hierarchical pore structure present, where there was a trimodal structure for monoliths containing nanodiamond following pyrolysis up to 900°C. Thermogravimetric analysis, TEM imaging, energy dispersive X-ray electron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy were employed to evaluate the properties of this new composite material. The adsorptions of methylene blue (MB) and neutral red (NR) dyes from water onto the composite monoliths were investigated and compared with activated carbon in order to further evaluate their physical and adsorptive properties. CND materials adsorb these two cationic dyes more effectively than activated carbon, due to a more accessible pore network, and DND content had a direct effect on adsorption capacities for the dyes. The adsorption isotherms coincided with Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models. Maximum adsorption capacities of 599 and 284 mg g -1 were achieved for NR and MB, respectively, on the CND composites.

A Simple Method for the Synthesis of High Surface Area Mesoporous Carbon Monolith via Soft Template Technique

“…Surface EDX analysis was carried out on cross sections of mesoporous carbon materials as shown in Figure 6D. EDX confirms the presence of high percentage of carbon element and a small percent of oxygen was also revealed in the mesoporous carbon sample, because of some surface oxidation [47].…”

Methacrylate Polymer Monoliths for Separation Applications

“…The biological separations section is also sub-divided into two sections as follows: (1) amplification of DNA, plasmids, viruses and peptides; and (2) chromatographic separation of biological species, such as proteins, DNA, plasmids and amino acids. This review is focused on methacrylate-based monolithic systems, however, in the case of SPE, some carbon monolith reports are also cited as a base reference, given carbon’s extensive usage as a sorbent material [ 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 , 118 , 119 ]. Challenges and drawbacks of methacrylate based monolithic media are discussed in Section 3.3 .…”

Nanocomposite Synthesis of Nanodiamond and Molybdenum Disulfide

“…Nanodiamonds (NDs) among carbon platforms have received less attention than some of the other carbon materials due to the high costs and low conductivity of these materials as electric functional materials [21,22]. However, NDs possess excellent physical properties, including high adsorption [23], high surface-to-volume ratio [24], chemical modality on the graphitic shell surface [25], and a nanocage within agglutinate [26]. Moreover, the dispersive capability of NDs in aqueous environments makes it possible to integrate and to extend materials to other functional employment, including biomedical applications as well as electronic functions [27].…”