Nano/Microporous Materials: Mesoporous and Surface‐Functionalized Mesoporous Carbon

Abstract

Abstract Mesoporous carbon materials, a category of porous carbons with pore size between 2 and 50 nm, have attracted considerable attention owing to their wide applications. There are many conventional methods available for the preparation of mesoporous carbons. Generally, the resulting mesoporous carbon materials have a broad pore size distribution. Carbon materials with uniform pore size can be prepared using porous silica gels or colloidal silica nanoparticles as hard templates. Periodically ordered mesoporous carbons are a recent addition to this category. Ordered mesoporous carbons can be made by a hard template method using ordered mesoporous silicas with three‐dimensionally connected pore structures (e.g., SBA‐15) as the templates. Self‐assembly of thermal decomposable block copolymers with thermosetting resol or novalac resin into mesostructured nanocomposites provides an alternative approach for the synthesis of ordered mesoporous carbons. The carbon materials obtained exhibit high Brunauer–Emett–Teller (BET) surface areas, controllable pore diameters with narrow pore size distribution, and large pore volumes. Efforts aimed toward surface modification of mesoporous carbons that integrate unique mesoporosity with other functionalities have led to many interesting materials and some promising results for applications. With the development of mesoporous and surface‐functionalized mesoporous carbon materials, numerous applications are awaiting the exploration of materials research scientists. Herein we summarize the recent progress in the synthesis and surface modification of mesoporous carbons, mainly on the carbon materials with uniform pore size and/or ordered structures.