Hierarchical macroporous carbon processed with ethylene glycol and starch as double porogens

A hierarchical macroporous carbon derived from phenol–formaldehyde (PF) resin was processed using ethylene glycol (EG) and starch as double porogens. The influences of carbonization temperature on morphological properties and pore microstructure of the porous carbon were investigated, and the formations of hierarchical macropores were analyzed. Obtained results demonstrated that both the carbonization temperature and the composition of the resin and the two porogens played key roles in determining the pore morphology and properties. Under certain conditions, a series of hierarchical macroporous carbons having relatively big macropores of diameter 10– 40 μm and relatively small macropores of diameter 0.5–2 μm can be obtained. The formations of the big and small macropores can be attributed to the pyrolysis of starch and the phase separation of resin-rich and glycol-rich phases, respectively.