Tailoring Adsorption and Framework Properties of Mesoporous Polymeric Composites and Carbons by Addition of Organosilanes during Soft-Templating Synthesis

A series of soft-templated mesoporous polymeric composites and carbons was synthesized under acidic conditions by using resorcinol and formaldehyde in the presence of organosilanes such as tetraethyl orthosilicate and tris(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)isocyanurate. Poly(ethylene oxide)−poly(propylene oxide)−poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer, Pluronic F127, was employed as a soft template. While the self-assembly of resorcinol, formaldehyde, and block copolymer combined with polymerization and proper thermal treatment affords mesoporous polymers and carbons with high surface area, large pore volume, and well-developed mesoporosity, the addition of organosilanes into this process opens new possibilities for tailoring adsorption, surface, and framework properties of these materials and for expanding their porosity. It is shown that the use of heterocyclic organosilanes in the aforementioned soft-templating synthesis affords heteroatom-doped mesoporous carbons, the properties of which can be further modified by controlled dissolution of silica species that results in creating substantial microporosity in these materials.