Nitrogen-doped microporous carbon materials derived from DBU-modified carboxylic acid polymers for CO2 capture

Nitrogen-doped microporous carbon materials were fabricated by carbonization of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene modified carboxylic acid polymers (PDA-DBU) without extra additional activators. The introduction of DBU could not only increase surface nitrogen content that enhanced the alkaline adsorption sites of carbon material itself, but also improved its specific surface area and pore volume. Therefore, CO 2 capture capacity of the nonactivated porous carbon (PDA-DBU-800) was 2.98 mmol·g −1 under 1 bar at 25 °C and the CO 2 adsorption selectivity based on the IAST adsorbed solution theory was 27.3 (CO 2 /N 2 =85:15). Meanwhile, the dynamic breakthrough experiment further confirmed that PDA-DBU adsorbent exhibited good selective adsorption capacity for CO 2 . Furthermore, PDA-DBU owned a great stability and reusability. The microporous carbon materials derived from DBU-modified carboxylic acid polymers will be a potential candidate for CO 2 capture. Nitrogen-doped microporous carbon materials were fabricated by carbonization of PDA-DBU without extra additional activators. The CO 2 capture capacity of PDA-DBU-800 was 2.98 mmol·g −1 under 1 bar at 25 °C and the CO 2 adsorption selectivity was 27.3 (CO 2 /N 2 =85:15), which was comparable or even better than those of the reported carbon-based adsorbents. • PDA-DBU derived nitrogen-doped microporous carbon materials were fabricated. • The introduction of DBU increased surface nitrogen content, activated carbon skeleton and generated micropore. • The synergy between micropores and basic sites enhanced CO 2 adsorption capacity and selectivity.