Influence of surface-active agents on pore characteristics of the generated spherical resorcinol–formaldehyde based carbon aerogels

Abstract Spherical resorcinol–formaldehyde (RF) aerogel particles were synthesized by emulsion polymerization of resorcinol with formaldehyde in a slightly basic aqueous solution, followed by supercritical drying with carbon dioxide. The carbon aerogel particles were prepared by carbonizing the RF aerogel particles at a high temperature under a nitrogen atmosphere. We investigated the influence of the surface-active agents applied upon emulsion polymerization on the form, the size, and the characteristic pore structure of the generated carbon aerogel particles. We found an important relationship between the surface-active agents and the pore structure of the carbon aerogel particles; a lower hydrophile–lipophile balance (HLB) value of the surface active agent leaded to large micro and mesopore volumes and also a large specific surface area in the generated spherical carbon aerogel particles.