Synthesis of conducting and mesoporous carbon aerogel by high temperature sol-gel process and CO2 activation

A non-critical point drying method of carbon aerogel synthesis using high temperature sol-gel process of resorcinol and furfuraldehyde (R-F) in isopropyl alcohol medium is reported in this paper. The R-F gelation was performed at a temperature of ∼130°C, which is much above the routine gelation temperatures followed by drying under ambient conditions and pyrolysis. Further activation of the aerogel under CO2 atmosphere at 920°C resulted in significant enhancement in its surface area and prominently mesopore dominated carbon aerogel was obtained. The carbon aerogel (CA) was evaluated to have specific surface area 698 m2/g with high mesopore area of 425 m2/g. The surface area properties of the CA prepared by the modified method compare well with the CA by critical point drying technique which is cumbersome, expensive and time consuming. XRD studies showed graphitic nature of this CA which was supported by SEM imaging displaying layered morphology. The high electrical conductivity of 190 S/m obtained for this CA is attributed to its graphitic layered structure. The enhanced conductivity and high mesoporosity makes this CA variant a good alternative as base matrix for catalyst and electrochemical applications.