Preparation of porous carbon derived from mixtures of furfuryl resin and glycol with controlled pore size distribution

This paper describes the preparation and properties of porous carbon by a technique which consists of mixing a carbon precursor (furfuryl resin and furfural alcohol), a pore-forming agent and a solvent (glycol), polymerizing the resin mixture, and pyrolyzing the hybrid of resin and glycol. The properties of porous carbons have been systematically investigated as a function of composition and heat treatment, with emphasis on understanding and controlling their morphology and pore size distribution. The results seem to indicate that by varying the ratios of the constituents in the polymer system, porous carbons with a wide variation in pore size distribution and morphology can be obtained. Three types of morphologies were observed: interconnected carbon with secondary spherical pores, discrete carbon particulates, and a crosslinked carbon network. Porous carbons with a very narrow pore size distribution have been obtained and the average pore size was controlled between 5 and 0.008 mum. The microstructure of porous carbon formed as a result of phase separation of resin-rich phase and glycol-rich phase. rather than a result of the pyrolysis process. Heat treatment had little effect on the properties of the porous carbons. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.