Effect of surfactant on the pore structure of mesoporous carbon

Mesoporous carbons (MCs) have been synthesized by using thermosetting phenol resin (TPR) as carbon precursor and commercially nanosized silica particles as template. During the synthesis of MCs, a kind of surfactant (Pluronic-F127) was used to modify the surface property of the silica particles. The dispersion capability of the nanosized particles as well as the effect of the surfactant on the pore structure of as-prepared carbons was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nitrogen adsorption, respectively. Results showed that the dispersion ability of silica particles was promoted after the addition of Pluronic-F127, which resulted in the increase of surface area and pore volume of the resultant MC. Pores with the pore size of about 4 nm and 10 nm were developed by adjusting the ratio of silica to the surfactant, and when the amount of surfactant reached a proper value, only pores of about 10 nm appeared. The surfactant had three functions for the pore development of MCs: increasing mesopores of about 10 nm by improving the dispersion capacity of nanosized particles, creation of small mesopores of about 4 nm and blocking the micropores in the carbon matrix.