Straightforward synthesis of a triazine-based porous carbon with high gas-uptake capacities

Abstract

A triazine-based porous carbon material (TPC-1) was prepared directly from a fluorinated aromatic nitrile in molten zinc chloride. Trimerization of the nitrile and subsequent defluorination carbonization of the polymeric network result in the formation of TPC-1. The defluorination process is reversible and can etch the polymeric network to release CFn, thereby generating additional porosity and rendering TPC-1 a nitrogen-rich porous material. TPC-1 shows a high BET surface area of 1940 m2 g−1 and contains both micropores and mesopores, which facilitate the diffusion and adsorption of gas molecules. Gas adsorption experiments demonstrate outstanding uptake capacities of TPC-1 for CO2 (4.9 mmol g−1, 273 K and 1.0 bar), CH4 (3.9 mmol g−1, 273 K and 1.0 bar), and H2 (10.1 mmol g−1, 77 K and 1.0 bar). This straightforward synthesis procedure provides an alternative pathway to prepare high-performance porous carbon materials.