Synthesis, characterization and gas sorption properties of a molecularly-derived graphite oxide-like foam

Calcination of the molecular precursor sodium chloranilate dihydrate at 300 °C in air leads to a foam-type graphite oxide-like derivative that is lightweight, has a high surface area and porosity, and contains oxygen in the concentration range of conventional graphite oxide. Characterization with a variety of techniques revealed that the porous network consists of interconnected bundles (crystallites) of turbostratically stacked graphene layers built up of aromatic and aliphatic domains and with polar hydrophilic groups pending on the outer surface. The EPR study unveiled an unusually high spin concentration that possibly endows the material with extra functionalities/reactivity. The foam selectively absorbs CO2 but shows a low adsorption capacity towards N2, CH4 and H2 gases. The material strongly sorbs CO in the absence of metal catalysts.