Evolution of the complex surface chemistry in mesoporous carbons obtained from polyaramide precursors

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 299; pp. 19 - 28
• Main Authors: Sánchez-Sánchez, A., Suárez-García, F., Martínez-Alonso, A., Tascón, J.M.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.04.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Ordered mesoporous carbons; Phosphoric acid activation; Physics; Surface chemistry; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Ordered mesoporous carbons; Phosphoric acid activation; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Surface chemistry; Porous materials; Carbon; Mesoporosity; X-ray photoelectron spectra
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2014.01.171

•OMCs enriched in nitrogen and oxygen are obtained using 3-aminobenzoic acid.•H3PO4 and carbonization temperature sharply change the surface composition.•Higher H3PO4 concentrations and carbonization temperature increase quaternary N.•Oxygen is forming a great variety of acidic groups.•Phosphorus is mainly in the form of phosphates/polyphosphates and C3–PO groups. Chemical evolution of micro/mesoporous ordered carbons containing nitrogen, oxygen and phosphorus surface functionalities was investigated by XPS. Nanocasting was selected as synthetic route: SBA-15 mesoporous silica was the solid template, 3-aminobenzoic acid was used as carbon, nitrogen and oxygen precursor, and phosphoric acid was selected to achieve doping with phosphorus. The evolution of the surface chemistry as a function of phosphoric acid concentration and carbonization temperature was studied, and carbons with a wide range of type and number of surface functional groups were identified. Thus, we show an easy way to successfully design ordered carbons exhibiting a specific surface composition by selecting certain experimental conditions.