On the micro- and mesoporosity of carbon aerogels and xerogels. The role of the drying conditions during the synthesis processes

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Switzerland : 1996), 2012-02, Vol.181-182, p.851-855
• Main Authors: Gallegos-Suárez, Esteban, Pérez-Cadenas, Agustín F., Maldonado-Hódar, Francisco J., Carrasco-Marín, Francisco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acetone; carbon; Carbon aerogel; Carbon xerogel; chemical engineering; drying; gels; Microwave treatment; Plasma treatment; Porosity
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2011.12.002

► Carbon gel microporosity development does not depend on the synthesis drying processes. ► The mesoporous structure is affected by the applied drying method. ► Previous exchange of water per acetone partially prevents the mesoporosity collapse. ► Porous xerogels dried by microwave or plasma are obtained in short periods of time. In this work the effect of the drying methods applied during the synthesis processes on the micro- and mesoporosity of carbon aerogels and xerogels has been studied. The microporosity development does not depend on the drying processes carried out on their corresponding organic gels. On the contrary, the mesoporous structure was affected by the applied drying method. Treatments with previous exchange of water per acetone partially prevented the mesoporosity collapse. Nevertheless, the xerogels obtained after microwave or plasmas treatments were chemically and texturally very similar to a classical thermally dried xerogel, but with the important advantage that these treatments can be carried out in very short period of times.