Carbon Precursor Research Articles

Ce/N @BC prepared based on plant metallurgy strategy: A novel activator of peroxymonosulfate for the degradation of sulfamethoxazole

A novel carbon catalyst was created based on plant metallurgy strategy for organic pollutants removal. Plants rich in CeO2 NPs in water were used as carbon precursors and pyrolyzed with urea to obtain Ce/N co-doped carbon catalysts, which were used in the degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) by active peroxymonosulfate (PMS). The results showed that the Ce/N @BC/PMS system achieved to 94.5% degradation of SMX in 40 min at a rate constant of 0.0602 cm−1. The activation center of PMS is widely dispersed Ce oxide nanocrystals, and CeO2 NPs promote the formation of oxygen centered PFR with enhanced catalytic ability and longer half-life. In addition, N-doping facilitates the transfer of π-electrons within the sp2 carbon of biochar, increasing active sites and thus improving PMS activation efficiency. The degradation process was contributed to by both radical and non-radical activation mechanisms including 1O2 and direct electron transfer, with O2•- serving as 1O2's precursor. Through the DFT calculations, LC-MS and toxicological analyses, the degradation pathway of pollutants and the toxicity changes throughout the entire degradation process were further revealed, indicating that the degradation of SMX could effectively reduce ecological toxicity.

In‐situ controllable synthesis of carbon dots for patterned fluorescent wood films rapid fabrication strategy

AbstractFluorescent‐patterned materials are widely used in information storage and encryption. However, preparing a patterned fluorescent display on a matrix currently requires a time‐consuming (hours or even days) and complex multi‐step process. Herein, a rapid and mild technique developed for the in‐situ controllable synthesis of fluorescent nitrogen‐doped carbon dots (NCDs) on eco‐friendly transparent wood films (TEMPO‐oxidized carboxyl wood film [TOWF]) within a few minutes was developed. A wood skeleton was employed as the carbon precursor for NCD synthesis as well as the matrix for the uniform and controlled distribution of NCDs. Moreover, the in‐situ synthesis mechanism for preparing NCDs in TOWF was proposed. The resulting fluorescent wood films have excellent tensile strength (310.00 ± 15.57 MPa), high transmittance (76.2%), high haze (95.0%), UV‐blocking properties in the full ultraviolet (UV) range, and fluorescent performance that can be modified by changing the heating parameters. Fluorescent patterning was simply achieved by regulating the in‐situ NCD synthesis regions, and the fluorescent patterns were formed within 10 s. These fluorescent‐patterned wood films can effectively store and encrypt information, and they can interact with external information through a transparent matrix. This work provides a green and efficient strategy for fabricating fluorescent information storage and encryption materials.

Preparation and Characterization of Calcium Hydroxide from Cockle Shell Waste via Sol-Gel Method: Effect of HCl Concentration

Continuous cockle shell dumping in open areas has become a global problem which generate major environmental issues. The conversion of the wastes into value-added products is highly desirable and economic. This work aimed to investigate the influence of sol-gel processing parameter on the properties of the synthesized calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2). In this study, cockle shell waste was used as calcium carbonate (CaCO3) precursor in the preparation of Ca(OH)2 via sol-gel method and the processing parameter varied was hydrochloric acid (HCl) concentration (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 M). The cockle shell based CaCO3 and the prepared Ca(OH)2 powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra-Red (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray (FESEM-EDX), X-ray fluorescent (XRF) and particle size analyzer (PSA). The XRD analysis indicates that the calcium carbonate obtained from cockle shell was mainly in the form of aragonite polymorph. Upon sol-gel processing, the analysis of the sample shows the presence of portlandite and small traces of aragonite in all samples suggesting an incomplete reaction of the hydrolysis process. Ca(OH)2 powder prepared using 1M HCl yields the smallest particle size.

Application of Activated Carbons Obtained from Polymer Waste for the Adsorption of Dyes from Aqueous Solutions.

Plastic waste disposal is a major environmental problem worldwide. One recycling method for polymeric materials is their conversion into carbon materials. Therefore, a process of obtaining activated carbons through the carbonization of waste CDs (as the selected carbon precursor) in an oxygen-free atmosphere, and then the physical activation of the obtained material with CO2, was developed. Dyes such as methylene blue (MB) and malachite green (MG) are commonly applied in industry, which contaminate the water environment to a large extent and have a harmful effect on living organisms; therefore, adsorption studies were carried out for these cationic dyes. The effects of the activation time on the physicochemical properties of the activated materials and the adsorption capacity of the dyes were investigated. The obtained microporous adsorbents were characterized by studying the porous structure based on low-temperature nitrogen adsorption/desorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), elemental analysis (CHNS), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR), thermal analysis (TG, DTG, DTA), Boehm's titration method, and pHpzc (the point of zero charge) determination. Moreover, adsorption studies (equilibrium and kinetics) were carried out. The maximum adsorption capacities (qm exp) of MB and MG (349 mg g-1 and 274 mg g-1, respectively) were identified for the obtained material after 8 h of activation. The results show that the use of waste CDs as a carbon precursor facilitates the production of low-cost and effective adsorbents.

On-Off-On Fluorometric Detection of Hg(II) and L-Cysteine Using Red Emissive Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Dots for Environmental and Clinical Sample Analysis.

This research introduces a novel fluorescence sensor 'on-off-on' employing nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) with an 'on-off-on' mechanism for the selective and sensitive detection of Hg(II) and L-cysteine (L-Cys). N-CDs was synthesized using citric acid as the carbon precursor and urea as the nitrogen source in dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent, resulting in red emissive characteristics under UV light. Comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, including UV-Vis, fluorescence, FT-IR, XRD, XPS, Raman, and Zeta potential techniques, validated the structural and optical characteristics of the synthesized N-CDs. The maximum excitation and emission of N-CDs were observed at 548 and 622nm, respectively. The quantum yield of N-CDs was calculated to be 16.1%. The fluorescence of N-CDs effectively quenches upon the addition of Hg(II) due to the strong coordination between Hg(II) and the surface functionalities of N-CDs. Conversely, upon the subsequent addition of L-Cys, the fluorescence of N-CDs was restored. This restoration can be attributed to the stronger affinity of the -SH group in L-Cys towards Hg(II) relative to the surface functionalities of N-CDs. This dual-mode response enabled the detection of Hg(II) and L-Cys with impressive detection limits of 15.1 nM and 8.0 nM, respectively. This sensor methodology effectively detects Hg(II) in lake water samples and L-Cys levels in human urine, with a recovery range between 99 and 101%. Furthermore, the N-CDs demonstrated excellent stability, high sensitivity, and selectivity, making them a promising fluorescence on-off-on probe for both environmental monitoring of Hg(II) and clinical diagnostics of L-Cys.

Fe3 C/Fe Decorated N-doped Carbon Derived from Tetrabutylammonium tetrachloroferrate Complex as Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for ORR, OER and Zn-Air Batteries in Alkaline Medium.

The emergence of non-precious metal-based robust and economic bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts for both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial for the rational design of commercial rechargeable Zn-air batteries (RZAB) with safe energy conversion and storage systems. Herein, a facile strategy to fabricate a cost-efficient, bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst Fe3 C/Fe decorated N doped carbon (FeC-700, the catalyst prepared at carbinization temperature of 700 °C) with a unique structure has been developed by carbonization of a single source precursor, tetrabutylammonium tetrachloroferrate(III) complex. The ORR and OER activity revealed excellent performance (ΔE=0.77 V) of the FeC-700 electrocatalyst, comparable to commercial Pt/C and RuO2, respectively. The designed temperature-tuneable structure provided sufficiently accessible active sites for the continuous passage of electrons by shortening the mass transfer pathway, leading to extremely durable electrocatalysts with high ECSA and amazing charge transfer performance. Remarkably, the assembled Zn-air batteries with the FeC-700 catalyst as the bifunctional air electrode delivers gratifying charging-discharging ability with an impressive power density of 134 mW cm-2 with a long lifespan, demonstrating prodigious possibilities for practical application.

Green synthesis of ZnO photocatalyst composited carbon quantum dots (CQDs) from lime (Citrus aurantifolia)

Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) is one of the most extensively exported agricultural products from Indonesia. Citric acid and ascorbic acid content from limes (Citrus aurantifolia) is such one of the carbon-rich fruits that is a suitable source for Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs) synthesis. CQD synthesized by relying on natural carbon precursors from lime (Citrus aurantifolia) is a more environmentally friendly approach in the present research, CQDs in this research will be used as an addition to ZnO by hydrothermal method in order to enhance photocatalytic activity. Corresponding to the results, the presence of CQDs improves both the optical and structural properties of ZnO, which led to enhance photocatalytic activity with a degradation percentage of 98% shortly after 75 min of visible light irradiation and to each of the repeatability test cycle results showing the consistent results and with the rate constant (k) fluctuating and the specified compound's degradation percentage remains relatively constant with minor changes.

NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase as a novel target for altering carbon flux to lipid accumulation and enhancing antioxidant capacity in Tetradesmus obliquus

Regulatory complexities in lipogenesis hinder the harmonization of metabolic carbon precursors towards lipid synthesis. Exploring regulatory complexities in lipogenesis, this study identifies NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) in Tetradesmus obliquus as a key factor. Overexpression IDH in strains ToIDH-1 and ToIDH-2 resulted in a 1.69 and 1.64-fold increase in neutral lipids, respectively, compared to the wild type, with lipid yield reaching 234.56 and 227.17 mg/L. Notably, despite slower growth, the cellular biomass augmented to 790.67 mg/L. Metabolite analysis indicated a shift in carbon precursors from protein to lipid and carbohydrate synthesis. Morphological observations revealed increases in the volume and number of lipid droplets, alongside a change in the fatty acid profile favoring monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids. Furthermore, IDH overexpression enhanced NADPH production and antioxidant activity, thereby further boosting lipid accumulation when combined with salt stress. This study suggests a pathway for improved lipogenesis and algal growth via metabolic engineering.

Mass synthesis of Pt/C catalysts with high Pt loading for low-overpotential hydrogen evolution

We present a facile and scalable method to synthesize Pt/C catalysts with high Pt loading (10–30 wt.%) using sodium polyacrylate resin (PAANa) as a multifunctional agent. PAANa can absorb H2PtCl6 solution and form a gel, which can be converted into Pt/C catalysts by pyrolysis. PAANa acts as a water absorber, a Pt stabilizer, and a carbon precursor. The optimized catalyst, pyrolyzed at 800 °C with a 20 wt.% Pt loading, demonstrates Pt nanoparticles measuring 3.5 nm in size. It exhibits excellent stability and achieves a low overpotential of 43 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 for the hydrogen evolution in alkaline media. The enhanced catalytic activity is due to the combined influence of the nanoscale Pt particles, the higher degree of graphitization, and the porous carbon substrate with a large surface area. We also demonstrate the scalability of the method by producing 100 g of the catalyst in the laboratory.

One-step molten salt-assisted preparation of crab shell-based hierarchical porous carbon for capacitive energy storage

Carbon-based materials have become the most commonly used electrode materials for supercapacitors due to their simple production and low preparation cost. The preparation of hierarchical porous carbon materials with excellent properties using biomass materials is a very valuable study. Therefore, we used crab shells as carbon precursors to prepare crab shell-based carbon materials by using the self-templating method (CaCO3) combined with low-temperature eutectic molten salt. When the composition of the eutectic salt was CaCl2/KCl (molar ratio of 43:57) and the mass ratio of crab shells to eutectic salt was 1:5, the prepared crab-shell-based carbon material (CC-CaK-5) exhibited excellent physical and electrochemical properties with high specific surface area (1193.7 m2g−1), rich heteroatom doping (O (7.83 %) and N (6.71 %)), and high specific capacitance (290 Fg−1 at 0.5 Ag−1).The CC-CaK-5//CC-CaK-5 devices assembled with CC-CaK-5 as the electrode material exhibited excellent electrochemical performance. At a current density of 1 Ag−1, the capacitance value of the device remained at 93.11 % of the initial capacitance value after 5000 cycles. The energy density reached 6.95 Whkg−1 at a power density of 302.09 Wkg−1 and remained at 4.71 Whkg−1 at a power density of 13,037.54 Wkg−1.

Efficient and eco-friendly preparation of N/P/O co-doped porous carbon electrode for zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors by laser carbonization

The incorporation of heteroatoms into carbon materials confers advantages in the development of electrode materials for zinc-ion supercapacitors with superior electrochemical performance. However, the conventional carbonization process requires a large thermal power input and is characterized by complexity, high costs, and lengthy reaction times. In this work, the phytic acid-doped polypyrrole (P-PPy) was carbonized via laser irradiation to synthesize N, P, O co-doped porous carbon (P-NOPC), wherein phytic acid served as the source of phosphorus and oxygen, while PPy served as the porous carbon precursor and nitrogen source. The formation of porous carbon can provide a large specific surface area for ion adsorption. The doping of heteroatoms improves the hydrophilicity of porous carbon electrodes and also improves the chemisorption capacity of carbon materials. The aqueous zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitor (ZHSC) based on 0.6P-NOPC9 positive electrode and zinc foil negative electrode has a discharge capacity of 148.0 mAh g−1 in a voltage window of 0.2–1.8 V at 0.1 A g−1, a high energy density (118.2 Wh kg−1) and long cycle life (capacity retention of 98.5% after 10,000 cycles). In addition, the capacity retention of the flexible quasi-solid-state ZHSC is 97.8% after 10,000 cycles. This study can provide a reference for the feasible design of porous carbon electrodes with high performance.

High-performance plastic-derived metal-free catalysts for organic pollutants degradation via Fenton-like reaction

The preparation of waste plastics-derived catalysts is an effective strategy for the waste reclamation. However, plastic-derived material is unsuitable for wastewater purification due to its small specific surface area (SSA) and inadequate active sites (such as N/O sites). Herein, we synthesized graphene-like nanosheets using g-C3N4 as the self-sacrificing soft template and plastic as the carbon precursor. Consequently, this strategy greatly promoted the efficiencies of the emerging organic pollutants degradation with the SSA and N content of the plastic-derived biochar increasing up to 1043.4 m2/g and 17.53 at.%, respectively. In detail, 100 % sulfadiazine (SD) removal could be achieved in 180 s via the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and the catalytic activity is far higher than previous research. Mechanism experiments corroborated that such a striking performance was attributed to the generation of SO4•−, O2•− and 1O2. Meanwhile, kinds of plastic precursors, even medical waste (i.e., masks, gauze, operating caps and degreasing cotton) were also applicable. And the practical application of the plastic-derived catalyst was further demonstrated by treating pollutants in a continuous flow mode with in situ fabricated membrane. This work provides valuable insights into waste plastics processing and water pollutants removal.

Organic polymer coating induced multiple heteroatom-doped carbon framework confined Co1-xS@NPSC core-shell hexapod for advanced sodium/potassium ion batteries

Synthesis of advanced structure and multiple heteroatom-doped carbon based heterostructure materials are the key to the preparation of high-performance energy storage electrode materials. Herein, the hexapod-shaped Co1-xS@NPSC has been triumphantly prepared using hexapod ZIF-67 as the sacrificial template to prepare Co1-xS inner core and N, P, and S tri-doped carbon (NPSC) as the shell through the carbonization of the organic polymer precursor. When applied as anode for Na+ batteries (SIBs) and K+ batteries (PIBs), Co1-xS@NPSC presents the high reversible specific capability of 747.4 mAh/g at 1.0 A/g after 235 cycles and 387.8 mAh/g at 5.0 A/g after 760 cycles for SIBs, as well as 326.7 mAh/g at 1.0 A/g after 180 cycles for PIBs. The excellent storage capacity and rate capability of Co1-xS@NPSC is ascribed to hexapod structure of ZIF-67 unlike the common dodecahedron, which is constructed with interior porous and exterior framework repository, donating supplemental active sites, and doping of multiple heteroatoms forming organic polymer coating inhibiting the volume expansion and restrains the agglomeration of Co1-xS nanoparticles. This approach has paved a bright avenue to exploit promising anode materials with novel structure and hetero-atom doping for high-performance energy storage devices.

Solvent-free pyrolysis synthesis of solid-state fluorescent carbon dots: Optical properties and latent fingerprint imaging

Carbon dots (CDs) have garnered significant attention due to their remarkable optical properties and low cytotoxicity. However, most studies on CDs have predominantly focused on their fluorescence behavior in solution, because their π-π stacking interactions, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, and surface electron transitions can induce fluorescence quenching through aggregation. In this investigation, three variants of solid-state fluorescent CDs were synthesized using a solvent-free pyrolysis technique under atmospheric pressure at 200 °C. In the solvent-free CDs syntheses, urea as a dispersant, while the carbon precursors (m-phenylenediamine, DL-aspartic acid, and p-phenylenediamine) were diversified. The photoluminescence quantum yields of the resultant blue-, yellow-, and red-emitting CDs powders were measured to be 11.62, 3.59, and 0.57 %, respectively. Radiative transitions resulting from the eigenstates of CDs dominate. Fluorescence decay studies suggested that radiative transitions resulting from the eigenstates of the CDs dominate as the emission maximum shifts to the red region. These CDs exhibit outstanding solid-state fluorescence, enabling their successful utilization in latent fingerprinting imaging. Remarkably, the red-emitting CDs also exhibited blue room-temperature phosphorescence, observable for ~3 s.

Mechanochemical production of graphene/amorphous carbon/Mn3O4 nanocomposites for asymmetric supercapacitor

The practical application of graphene/manganese oxide nanocomposites in energy storage presents a significant challenge due to their environmentally unfriendly and complex synthesis, as well as weak interface interactions. Herein, a sustainable and scalable ball milling-thermal annealing method is proposed to produce a graphene/amorphous carbon/Mn3O4 (GACMO) nanocomposite. A triblock copolymer is employed as an intercalator to facilitate the formation of few-layer graphene during ball-milling, a precursor for amorphous carbon to encapsulate Mn3O4 upon thermal-annealing, and thus an intermediate layer to enhance the interface interaction between graphene and Mn3O4. Benefiting from its 3D porous structure and exceptional interface design, GACMO exhibits a large specific surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, enhanced structural stability. Consequently, the GACMO electrode presents a high capacitance of 219 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 with a 91.4 % retention at 10 A g−1 after 5000 cycles. Furthermore, the GACMO-based asymmetric supercapacitor shows a high capacitance of 138 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, superior energy/power density (62.1 W h kg−1 at 0.45 kW kg−1, 0.6 mW h cm−3 at 9.3 mW cm−3), and promising cycling stability (88.3 % retention after 10,000 cycles). This study brings new insights into the fabrication of graphene/metal oxide-based energy materials.

Conversion of waste cork to N-doped porous carbons by urea-assisted hydrothermal method for enhanced VOC capture

Converting waste resources into porous carbon for pollutants capture is an effective strategy to achieve the environmental goal of “treating waste with waste”. Cork is an ideal precursor of porous carbons due to its ordered honeycomb-like cell structure and layered composition distribution. Herein, N-doped porous carbons (PCs) were prepared via two steps of urea-assisted hydrothermal carbonization and chemical activation to mitigate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) pollution. Results indicated that the obtained PC4-800 exhibited remarkable features for adsorption including high total pore volume (0.97 cm3/g) and specific surface area (1864.89 m2/g), as well as abundant N-containing functional groups. The excellent pore structure was primarily owing to the corrosion of the carbon matrix by the gas produced from the reaction of K2CO3 and N-containing functional groups. The adsorption results showed that the PC4-800 have an outstanding toluene adsorption capacity (867.03 mg/g) that outperforming majority of adsorbents previously reported. There are substantial pores in N-doped PCs with a pore width of 1.71–2.28 nm, which is 3 to 4 times the molecular dynamic diameter of toluene, and plays a crucial role in the absorption process. Moreover, the promotional influence of N-functional groups on the toluene adsorption process was verified through DFT calculation by Gaussian imitating, where N-6 generated π-electron enrichment sites on the surface of N-doped PCs, facilitating π-π dispersion with the benzene ring in toluene. This study provides a new strategy to convert waste cork into high-performance adsorbents for VOCs removal.

Heat treatment of iron/carbon composites for energy storage: effect on physicochemical and electrochemical properties

Carbon materials are widely used as supercapacitor electrodes while iron oxides and other iron compounds are promising electrode materials due to its pseudocapacitive contribution. This work deals with the preparation and electrochemical characterization of iron/carbon composites for supercapacitor electrode applications. The carbon precursor samples were prepared from a carbonization of babassu coconut endocarp, and the iron/carbon nanocomposites were obtained by precipitation synthesis using iron salt, followed by a heat treatment at different temperatures. The electrochemical characterization of the samples show that, at low current density, the sample without iron compounds shows the higher electrical capacitance, up to 98 F g-1 in 2 M H2SO4. This good performance can be associated to a pseudocapacitive contribution of the oxygenated functional groups present in this sample. However, at higher current densities, the best electrochemical behaviour was achieved for the sample treated at 1000 °C. This good performance is may be associated to the Feº and Fe3C nanoparticles present in the sample which can enhance its electrical conductivity. On the other hand, is no there clearly evidence of pseudocapacitive contribution of the iron particles. Future works will seek to improve the surface area of the materials with the aim to increase the double layer capacitance, and also to perform electrochemical studies using other electrolytes.

Influence of nitrogen and sulfur co-doped activated carbon used as electrode material in EmiFSI ionic liquid toward high-energy supercapacitors

Porous carbon materials used as electrode materials could benefit from heteroatom co-doping to enhance their electrochemical properties. A one-step carbonization/co-doping procedure was developed to produce a nitrogen and sulfur (NS) co-doped activated carbon material from mangosteen shells (MS). Mangosteen is a tropical fruit globally well spread and cultivated in at least three continents and its shells represent an excellent porous carbon precursor. The amount of the doping agent (thiourea) was examined in relation to the morphological, structural, textural, and electrochemical performances of the material. The characterization results revealed that the 0.25 NS-doped MS AC electrode material was optimal and displayed a BET-specific surface area of 2308 m2 g−1. As measured by three-electrode configurations, this sample showed higher electrochemical performances than the non-doped MS AC with a specific capacity of 60.0 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1. An increase in voltage (3.6 V) was observed in a symmetric supercapacitor using the doped material compared to the non-doped (2.8 V) in the same ionic liquid electrolyte. Further, the device demonstrated a specific capacity of 111.3 mAh g−1, a remarkable specific energy of 41.3 Wh kg−1 at 0.5 A g−1, and specific power of 7333.5 W kg−1 at 5 A g−1. These results pave the way for developing highly porous carbon materials with improved surface chemistry. The material can be used in different applications, including supercapacitors, batteries, and electrocatalysis at a reduced cost.

Ultrasonic treatment duration: A nuanced parameter in synthesis affecting structural properties and ORR performance of KOH-activated carbon

In this study, we investigate the effects of the duration of ultrasonic treatment during the impregnation process of a carbon precursor with an aqueous alkaline solution on the structural and electrochemical properties of KOH-activated carbon materials. Our findings using polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-derived carbon materials reveal that extended ultrasonic treatment leads to a more consistent distribution of the activating agent, promoting more uniform surface activation. This leads to notable shifts in the material's structure and surface chemistry, thereby influencing its functionality as an electrode material in supercapacitors and its electrocatalytic activity in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Our results indicate a 6 % difference in the specific surface area and an 8 wt% rise in oxygen content when comparing samples without ultrasonic treatment to those treated for 10 min. Moreover, the specific capacitance increases from 133.9 to 163.5 F g−1, and the ORR activity ascends from 1.88 to 2.23 mA cm−2. This research highlights the potential of ultrasonic treatment duration as a variable to fine-tune the structure and properties of porous carbon materials, emphasizing its scientific and technological significance in the production of stable porous carbon materials.

Design of Porous Carbon Adsorbents from Ethylene Glycol for Selective CO2 Adsorption

AbstractThe production of affordable advanced porous materials is necessary for applications involving the capture of CO2. This study aimed to investigate the use of inexpensive liquid precursors in the production of CO2 sorbents. Porous precursors were produced through solvothermal processing of ethylene glycol via dehydration using sulfuric acid. Various pyrolysis and activation techniques were utilized on a carbon precursor to examine how different heat treatment methods affect surface chemical properties and the behavior of static CO2 adsorption at temperatures of 273 K, 298 K, and 313 K. Out of the studied carbons, the urea‐treated pyrolyzed sample exhibited a CO2 uptake capacity of 0.93 mmol g−1 at a pressure of 0.15 bar and a temperature of 298 K. This carbon exhibited a remarkable CO2/N2 selectivity of 46, mainly due to its microporosity and a nitrogen content of 8.3 atomic percent. Moreover, the investigation of adsorption and chemical properties unveiled that nonoxidized sulfur exhibits favorable effects on CO2 adsorption, particularly at the temperature of 298 K. This study provides evidence that liquid precursors can be effectively employed to generate porous doped functional carbons or precursors using solvothermal conditions.