Aerosol assisted synthesis of silica/phenolic resin composite mesoporous hollow spheres

• Published in: Colloid and polymer science Vol. 286; no. 12; pp. 1361 - 1368
• Main Authors: Yu, Xianglin, Ding, Shujiang, Meng, Zhaokai, Liu, Jiguang, Qu, Xiaozhong, Lu, Yunfeng, Yang, Zhenzhong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.10.2008; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aerosols; Applied sciences; Carbon; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics; Composite materials; Composites; Exact sciences and technology; Food Science; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Holes; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; Original Contribution; Phase separation; Phenolic resins; Physical Chemistry; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymer Sciences; Silicon carbide; Silicon dioxide; Soft and Granular Matter; Specific surface; Technology of polymers; Hollow spheres; Composite; Mesoporous; Carbon; Template; Experimental study; Composite particles; Phenolic resin; Porous material; Precursor; Silica; Mesoporosity; Thermal stability; Submicron particle; Carbonization; Hollow shape; Pyrocarbon; Morphology; Manufacturing; Spherical particle; Formation mechanism; Ultrasonic method
• ISSN: 0303-402X; 1435-1536
• DOI: 10.1007/s00396-008-1904-0

Hollow spheres of phenolic resin/silica composite are synthesized by macroscopic phase separation of a sorbitan monooleate surfactant Span 80 during aerosol-assisted spraying. The cavity can be evolved from multiple compartments to single hollow cavity with the increase of Span 80 content. The composite shell becomes mesoporous due to the release of small molecules after thermal treatment above 350 °C. After further thermal treatment at a higher temperature for example 900 °C in nitrogen or 1,450 °C in argon, the carbon/silica composite hollow spheres or crystalline silicon carbide hollow spheres are derived, respectively. Compared to the pure phenolic resin-based carbon spheres, thermal stability of the carbon-based composite spheres in air is essentially improved by the introduction of inorganic component silica. The carbon-based composite hollow spheres combine both performances of easy mass transportation through macropores and high specific surface area of mesopores, which will be promising to support catalysts for fuel cells.