Simple synthesis of highly ordered mesoporous carbon by self-assembly of phenol–formaldehyde and block copolymers under designed aqueous basic/acidic conditions

In view of the low reactivity of phenol with formaldehyde under acidic condition in the synthesis of ordered mesoporous carbons, a strategy to accelerate the polymerization of phenol and formaldehyde by using designed aqueous basic/acidic conditions (first weakly basic condition then highly acidic condition) is developed. The first weakly basic condition benefits the formation of hydroxymethyl phenols at 313 K. The latter highly acidic condition mainly induces the condensation reaction between the formed hydroxymethyl phenols, as well as the self-assembly of phenol–formaldehyde and block copolymer template. After removal of the template, the obtained carbon exhibits highly ordered hexagonal mesostructure with a surface area of 760 m2 g−1, large pore volume (0.64 cm3 g−1) and uniform pore size (3.32 nm). This developed strategy affords a simple and highly reproducible approach for the synthesis of ordered mesoporous carbon from the less expensive phenol under strong acidic condition, which also provides a wide and easily accessed synthesis condition for the further functionalization, such as the in situ introducing of metal ions.