Regulating pore structure of carbon aerogels by graphene oxide as 'shape-directing' agent

We proposed the mechanism of 'shape-directing' of graphene oxide in the carbon aerogel derived from phenolic resin. At the stage of sol-gel, the presence of numerous oxygen functional groups on GO has strong interfacial bonding with phenolic resin. The water evaporation rate can be slow down to prolong the gelation time and reduce the shrinkage of aerogel during the sol-gel and freeze-drying process. This would not only reinforce the three-dimensional structure but prevent the network structure from collapse.234