Mechanochemical synthesis of porous carbon at room temperature with a highly ordered sp2 microstructure. (November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Casco, M.E.; Badaczewski, F.; Grätz, S.; Tolosa, A.; Presser, V.; Smarsly, B.M.; Borchardt, L.
• Is Part Of: Carbon. Volume 139(2018)
• Page Start: 325
• Page End: 333
• Publication Date: 2018-11
• Subjects: Carbon -- Periodicals; Carbone -- Périodiques; Koolstof; Toepassingen; Electronic journals; 546.681
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2018.06.068
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-6223

Abstract

Abstract: Carbon nanostructures with a well-developed turbostratic sp 2 structure and high porosity are synthesized at room temperature inside a planetary ball mill. The obtained carbons were analyzed in-depth by means of gas adsorption, wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Our approach involves the solvent-free reaction between calcium carbide (CaC2 ) and hexachlorobenzene (C6 Cl6 ) conducted under mechanochemical conditions. After certain mechanical activation time, the exothermic nature of the reaction (−492 kcal) provokes a combustion-like event that results in innocuous salt (CaCl2 ) and a carbonaceous material. Carbon with a high degree of structural order in the constituting graphene and the graphene stacks, possessing almost no internal surface, can be obtained after 5 min of milling time with a mass ratio CaC2 /C6 Cl6 of 0.9, while carbon exhibiting a surface area as high as 915 m 2 /g can be obtained after 2 h of milling time with a mass ratio CaC2 /C6 Cl6 of 5.1. WAXS results and TEM observations reveal a mixture of amorphous carbon and non-graphitic phases. Among the last one, spherical-shaped carbons and curved nanosized strips can be easily distinguished. Graphical abstract: Image 1