Unusual flexibility of mesophase pitch-derived carbon materials: An approach to the synthesis of graphene

Abstract

Structural flexibility in a petroleum pitch-derived carbon material has been indirectly evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), immersion calorimetry and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) measurements. Exposure of the carbon material to an organic solvent (e.g., n-nonane) gives rise to a large internal rearrangement, associated with a drastic re-ordering of the graphitic microdomains. These structural changes are also associated with a high flexibility of the internal porous network, as observed by inelastic neutron scattering measurements. The internal rearrangement and the structural flexibility could be responsible for the excellent performance of this kind of activated carbons in a wide variety of adsorption processes. Last but not least, the structural characteristics of these carbon materials composed of graphitic microdomains has been used to synthesize graphene “egg-like” flakes following a simple procedure based on exfoliation with organic solvents

High value activated carbons from waste polystyrene foams

“…The maximum amounts adsorbed by AC600, AC700 and AC800 were 270, 536 and 1042 mg g -1 respectively. The AC obtained at 800 ºC evidenced an excellent adsorption performance with an outstanding amount of MB adsorbed, one of the highest, in fact, ever published in the literature (Table 2) [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33].…”

“…This could also be a possible and simple solution to add value to the recycling of this material. Graphene oxide 243.9 [24] Carbon nanotubes 99.8 [26] Activated carbon 435 [27] Mesophase pitch-derived AC 950 [23] Pyrophyllite 70.4 [28] Calcium…”

Understanding the breathing phenomena in nano-ZIF-7 upon gas adsorption

“…Despite the importance of these processes under operando conditions, they have been scarcely described in the literature due to the difficulty in their identification, preferentially for amorphous materials (for instance, activated carbons). [1][2][3][4] Among nanoporous solids with associated framework dynamics, zeolitic imidazole frameworks (ZIFs) are by far the most widely investigated in the last few years. 5,6 The large interest attracted by these materials is due to their highly developed porous structure, large crystallinity, and high thermal and mechanical stability (the metal−imidazolate-type ligand−metal bond angle resemble that of the Si−O−Si in zeolites).…”

Preparation, Characterization, and Applications of Carbonaceous Mesophase: A Review

“…In addition to being used as a high-quality raw material for the above-mentioned carbon materials, carbonaceous mesophase can also be used to prepare some novel and value-added carbon materials such as miracle graphene [46], carbon quantum dots [47], good binder for high-performance magnesia carbon bricks [48], fluorinated pitch [49], etc.…”