Tailoring micro-mesoporosity in activated carbon fibers to enhance SO2 catalytic oxidation

•Tailoring a porous structure in activated carbon fibers enhances SO2 adsorption.•Cobalt naphthenate enhances spinnability and catalyzed the specific porous structure.•Combination of micropores and large mesopores yields the highest SO2 adsorption rates.

Enhanced SO2 adsorption of activated carbon fibers is obtained by tailoring a specific micro-mesoporous structure in the fibers. This architecture is obtained via metal catalytic activation of the fibers with a novel precursor, cobalt naphthenate, which contrary to other precursors, also enhances spinnability and carbon fiber yield. In the SO2 oxidation, it is demonstrated that the combination of micropores and large mesopores is the main factor for an enhanced catalytic activity which is superior to that observed in other similar microporous activated carbon fibers. This provides an alternative way for the development of a new generation of catalytic material.

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