Enhanced organic species identification via laser structuring of carbon monolithic surfaces

• Published in: Applied surface science 2019-11, Vol.493, p.829-837
• Main Authors: He, Xiaoyun, Chikarakara, Evans, Nesterenko, Ekaterina P., Nesterenko, Pavel N., Mousavian, Reza Taherzadeh, Paull, Brett, Brabazon, Dermot
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon monolith; CO2 laser processing; Organic detection; Physical and chemical surface structure; XPS
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2019.06.298

It is important to be able to control the physical and chemical integrity of carbon-based porous monolith structures while being tailored for targeted analytical, energy and catalytic based applications. A set up using a CO2 laser in continuous mode (CW CO2 laser) was implemented to cut fragile and porous carbon monolithic (CM) and nanotemplated carbon monolithic (NTCM) rods into discs with a prescribed thickness and dimensional integrity (denoted as LCM and LNTCM, or LCMs). Changes in structure, porosity and composition of LCMs were induced by the efficient thermal energy afforded by the CW CO2 laser irradiation under tightly controlled process conditions. The main effects observed before and after laser cutting were studied in comparison with traditional scalpel blade cutting of carbon monolithic (SCM). FE-SEM images confirmed that the resulting LCMs exhibited a more open, interconnected macroporous structure and smoothed mesopores to a depth of approximately 5 μm, while the structure of the bulk section remained intact. Minimal changes in chemical compositions were confirmed by XPS. Raman spectroscopy revealed a modest increase in the graphitic content on the cross sections of LCM discs. Phenol and Bisphenol A (BPA) was used as a model analyte for demonstration of resulting discs adsorption performance. [Display omitted] •Developed method of laser structuring lacy fragile carbon monoliths•Physical and chemical property determination of carbon monoliths•Comparison presented between templated and non-templated carbon monoliths•Significant enhancement of flow and adsorption reported for laser processed monoliths•Elaboration of areas for further improvements carbon monolith preparation