Synthesis and Characterization of Hexagonally Ordered Carbon Nanopipes

CMK-5 ordered mesoporous carbons that consist of two-dimensional (2-D) hexagonal arrays of pipes were synthesized using furfuryl alcohol as a carbon source and SBA-15 aluminosilicate of 2-D hexagonal structure as a template. External and internal pipe diameters were varied concomitantly by using SBA-15 templates with different pore diameters. The internal pipe diameter was also adjustable by changing conditions of the deposition of the carbon film on the walls of the template. It was shown that, under the typical synthesis conditions, furfuryl alcohol is fully polymerized inside SBA-15 pores. The internal pores of the pipes are generated during pyrolysis of the furfuryl alcohol under vacuum conditions. These pores are quite uniform in diameter, although there was evidence for the presence of constrictions in them, which may be related to the internal surface roughness or corrugation. The thickness of the carbon layer on the walls of the SBA-15 template was estimated as a difference between the pore radius...