Engineering the outermost surface of mesoporous carbon beads towards the broad-spectrum blood-cleansing application

Abstract

The properties of the outermost surfaces of porous carbons are critical in determining their functions especially for the accessibility of adsorbate into the bulk pores. Herein, a concept that engineering the outermost surface of mesoporous carbons to improve their function and serviceability is provided. By using a suspension-assisted colloidal silica templating, millimeter-sized mesoporous carbon beads (MCBs) are prepared, which not only possess very developed mesoporous structure, but also have a macroscopically spherical form with a nanostructured outermost surface layer. It is realized that such surface layer could dramatically improve the holistic properties of MCBs including mechanical strength, liquidity and wear resistant. Such surface layer could also efficiently suppress platelet adhesion/activation and avoid blood hemolysis and clotting, allowing the MCBs directly contact with blood. Moreover, the surface layer with mesopores could serve as a selective filtering membrane accessible for the small and middle toxins, guaranteeing the broad-spectrum blood cleansing application. This work reveals the surface structure of porous carbons that is distinct from the bulk, and its understanding and control should be of great importance both from fundamental and practical points of view.