SBA-15 templated-ordered mesoporous carbon: effect of SBA-15 microporosity

Ordered mesoporous carbons (OMCs) were synthesized using SBA-15 silica as template through a two-step method of carbon precursor infiltration. Rod-like SBA-15 silica templates were prepared either in the presence or in the absence of NaCl at 35 degrees C or 60 degrees C. Furfuryl alcohol was used as carbon precursor. SBA-15 silica templates, SBA-15/polyfurfuryl alcohol composites and mesoporous carbons were characterized by means of XRD, SEM and nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements. Nitrogen adsorption data and alpha(s)-plot showed that the SBA-15 silica prepared in the absence of NaCl contained both micropores and mesopores whereas samples prepared in the presence of NaCl (NaCl/SiO2 = 0.1 or 0.5) exhibited no micropores. SEM images showed that the morphology of the current OMCs was directly dependent on the pore structure of the SBA-15 silica templates. The carbons derived from SBA-15 silicas that contained channels interconnected with either micropores or secondary mesopores retained the rod-like morphology whereas the carbon prepared using SBA-15 silica that contained only primary mesopores did not retain this morphology.