Microstructure and adsorption property of nanocarbide-derived carbon (CDC) synthesized at ambient temperature

• We supply one new environment-friendly technique to synthesize carbide-derived carbon (CDC) at room temperature.
• The as-obtained CDC possesses all of the morphologies same to that fabricated by the high temperature chlorinating.
• The CDC from Ti3SiC2 has a high nitrogen adsorption capability of 86.8 cm3/g (STP) (P/P0≈1).

Nanocarbide-derived carbon (CDC) was synthesized at room temperature by etching Nb4AlC3 and Ti3SiC2 powders in alkali and acid solutions, respectively. The obtained CDC showed similar morphologies as the one obtained by high temperature chlorination. The CDC synthesis mechanisms included removal of Nb, Al, Ti, Si and formation of amorphous carbon phase which reordered in various structures including carbon barrel, onion, ribbon, tube, and rod. The CDC obtained from Ti3SiC2 showed high nitrogen adsorption capability of 86.8 cm3/g (STP) (P/P0≈1).