Self-assemblying behaviour of activated microporous carbon microspheres functionalized via water filtration process

Abstract

Activated carbon spheres are truly innovative materials with their porous micro/nanostructure that gives them tunable and controllable surface properties (i.e. high surface area, size and orientation of pores etc.). They have great potential for applications as adsorbents for cleaning/purification of water, air and chemical substances, catalyst supports, energy storage and conversion, adsorption of chemical warfare agents, filtration and others. Magnetic functionalization of highly porous and high surface areas of activated carbons have received considerable attention for their more sophisticated and advanced utilization as "smart" and "self-assemblying" purposes. In this study, a novel fabrication technique was used to synthesize activated high compressive strength nanoporous carbon spheres. The functionalization via adsorption/ impregnation of magnetic substances was occured during a well-known water treatment-filtering route to fill the pores with nano-sized magnetic particles. Unusually active and dynamic interactions of the magnetic phases were observed upon contacting into each other revealing self-assemblying behaviour of activated carbon microspheres. Dynamic magnetical interaction of self assemblying behaviour of these spheres may have further and advanced applications for variety of purposes.