Transformation of mesoporous benzene silica to nanoporous carbon

Mesoporous benzene silica (MBS) composites were synthesized and their physical properties were investigated. Three different MBS samples were prepared using octadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, vitamin E TPGS, and Pluronic 123 block copolymer as structure directing agents, respectively. The template extracted MBS samples were heat treated to 1000 °C under argon to carbonize the benzene rings in the pore walls to form a graphitic structure. These carbon/SiO2 composites were treated with HF to dissolve the SiO2. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption. The MBS samples 1–3 had pore sizes of 2.73, 3.35, and 5.52 nm, respectively. The carbon materials CBS samples 1–3 prepared in this study were microporous (<1.4 nm) with high surface areas in the range of 950–1250 m2/g.