On the Gas Storage Properties of 3D Porous Carbons Derived from Hyper-Crosslinked Polymers

Abstract

The preparation of porous carbons by post-synthesis treatment of hypercrosslinked polymers is described, with a careful physico-chemical characterization, to obtain new materials for gas storage and separation. Different procedures, based on chemical and thermal activations, are considered; they include thermal treatment at 380 °C, and chemical activation with KOH followed by thermal treatment at 750 or 800 °C; the resulting materials are carefully characterized in their structural and textural properties. The thermal treatment at temperature below decomposition (380 °C) maintains the polymer structure, removing the side-products of the polymerization entrapped in the pores and improving the textural properties. On the other hand, the carbonization leads to a different material, enhancing both surface area and total pore volume—the textural properties of the final porous carbons are affected by the activation procedure and by the starting polymer. Different chemical activation methods and temperatures lead to different carbons with BET surface area ranging between 2318 and 2975 m2/g and pore volume up to 1.30 cc/g. The wise choice of the carbonization treatment allows the final textural properties to be finely tuned by increasing either the narrow pore fraction or the micro- and mesoporous volume. High pressure gas adsorption measurements of methane, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide of the most promising material are investigated, and the storage capacity for methane is measured and discussed.

Optimization of the Friedel–Crafts Alkylation for the Synthesis of Hyper-Cross-Linked Polymers

“…8,12,13 These functional groups are often undesirable since they occupy aromatic substitution positions, hampering the cross -linking potentially leading to a reduction of the surface area and pore volumes in the final materials. 14 In this work we report on the synthesis and characterization of an HCP, prepared from the diphenyl sulfide monomer, α,α′-dichloro-p-xylene as cross-linker, FeCl3 as catalyst and dichloroethane as solvent with a reaction temperature of 78 °C and reaction time of approximately 24 h.…”

“…Unfortunately, the lack of regioselectivity associated with Friedel–Crafts alkylation does not allow one to control the resulting 3D structure, limiting the possibility to customize the polymeric framework for specific applications. When HCPs are obtained by this approach, side reactions are also observed, leading to methyl, methyl chloride, methyl hydroxide, and their ethyl counterparts attached to framework aromatic rings. ,, These functional groups are often undesirable since they occupy aromatic substitution positions, hampering the cross-linking, potentially leading to a reduction of the surface area and pore volumes in the final materials …”

Tannin-Based Resins for 3D printing of Porous Carbon Architectures

“…Porous carbon materials, thanks to their excellent chemical stability and unique mechanical, electrochemical, thermal and electrical properties, , are used in many industrial processes such as heat management, gas storage, and electrochemical energy storage and conversion, , among others. Given their central role, it would make sense to find a fast, inexpensive, and accurate way to produce tailored complex systems, not only to broaden the application range of these materials but also to give them a more ecological character.…”

Enhancing Functionality of Epoxy–TiO2-Embedded High-Strength Lightweight Aggregates

“…HCP is highly applicable in energy and environment sectors such as for gas storage, carbon capture/removal, pollutant isolation/removal, and catalysts due to the advantages of a variety of synthesis methods, easy functionalization, high surface area, and mild reaction conditions [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. When HCP bonds to the inner pores of LWA, the strength of the LWA is enhanced by the physical/chemical bonding between the HCP and the porous surface and the light weight of the LWA is maintained.…”