Hierarchically Porous Organic Materials Derived From Copolymers: Preparation and Electrochemical Applications

Abstract

Compared to conventional porous materials with a uniform pore size distribution, hierarchical ones containing interconnected macro-, meso-, and micropores have greatly enhanced material performance due to the increased specific surface area and mass transfer. Copolymer is a good candidate used for construction of such hierarchically porous structures, resulting from its tunable segment composition, unique phase separation, and self-assembly, etc. Hierarchically porous materials derived from copolymers can be served as a versatile support for many reactive molecules. Furthermore, hierarchically porous carbon materials (HPCMs) can also be prepared by carbonization of copolymers, one segment of which is converted to carbon while the other segment is responsible for the pore formation after its removal by pyrolysis. The obtained hierarchically porous copolymers or carbon materials have promising electrochemical applications especially in energy conversion and storage. In the present review, recent advances in preparation of hierarchically porous materials (HPMs) derived from copolymers are reviewed, and their electrochemical applications in supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells, electrochemical biosensors, and electrocatalysis are also introduced. The rational design and control for the hierarchically porous microstructures are described deeply from the molecular level. Also, the relationship between the micro-structure and the electrochemical performance is revealed. This review can provide us a better understanding of both theory and experiment for the preparation of hierarchically porous organic materials and their electrochemical applications.