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Porous organic and carbon xerogels derived from alkaline aqueous phenol–formaldehyde solutions

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Abstract

Porous carbons were synthesized from the low cost precursors phenol and formaldehyde in aqueous solution, catalysed with NaOH. The xerogels were ambient pressure dried without prior solvent exchange. For an excess of formaldehyde, the resulting carbon xerogels show porosities up to 90%, with a predominant fraction of macroporosity, specific surface areas up to 768 m2/g and mesopore volumes up to 0.59 cm3/g. Small-angle X-ray scattering reveals fractal behaviour for many samples. Relevant sodium impurities up to 3–4 wt% in the organic and carbon samples cannot be avoided, even by washing of the samples. As possible reason for the high sodium content, the formation of crown ether like calix [6] arene is assumed. Overall, the sodium impurities detected confine the use of this system to applications, where higher ash contents are uncritical.

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Notes

  1. Source: material safety data sheets from Merck KGaA.

  2. As the pH-value changes when the polymerization reaction proceeds [1], the base or acid used is not a true “catalyst”. However, for convenience, we also denote the base or acid as “catalyst”.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the German ministry of research and education (BMBF, FKZ 03X0016). The authors thank Dr. Guenter Goerigk and Ulla Vainio, PhD from the HASYLAB for their support.

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  1. Bavarian Center for Applied Energy Research, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany

    C. Scherdel, R. Gayer & G. Reichenauer

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  1. C. Scherdel
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  2. R. Gayer
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  3. G. Reichenauer
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Correspondence to C. Scherdel.

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Scherdel, C., Gayer, R. & Reichenauer, G. Porous organic and carbon xerogels derived from alkaline aqueous phenol–formaldehyde solutions. J Porous Mater 19, 351–360 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10934-011-9481-x

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