Analytical Techniques for Pore Size and Specific Surface Area Analysis

Abstract

A significant breakthrough has been made in the preparation of 2D materials with controlled surface functionality, tailored pore structure and size over the last two decades. The development of advanced 2D nanomaterials has resulted in challenges in the area of physical adsorption characterization, and a broad textural characterization is critical for the optimization of 2D materials investigated in a variety of potential applications. As a matter of fact, specific surface area and pore size are decisive properties in the field of energy storage, catalysis, batteries, and several others. A thorough examination of the pore architecture and surface area is specifically vital because they influence diffusion rates, transport phenomena, rule selectivity, and performance in catalyzed reactions. This chapter discusses major aspects of underlying mechanisms of the most commonly used BET method for evaluating the surface area and pore size of porous and finely divided 2D nanomaterials. We discuss multiple examples of state-of-the-art specific surface area and pore size determination as well as a brief overview of the current challenges in physical adsorption analysis.