Synthesis of ultra-large mesoporous carbons from triblock copolymers and phloroglucinol/formaldehyde polymer

Ultra-large mesoporous carbon materials were synthesized with the use of triblock copolymers and phloroglucinol/formaldehyde polymer as filler under acid conditions. The carbons obtained by employing F127 as template and carbonizing at 600 °C exhibit large mesopores with a narrow pore-size distribution centered at 19.2 nm. With the assistance of decane as a swelling agent, the pore size of the P123-templated 600 °C-carbonized carbons could be enlarged from 11.5 to 14.7 nm. It is demonstrated that the low synthesis temperature and high reactivity of phloroglucinol are two key factors for the formation of large mesopores.