Development of novel porous carbon frameworks through hydrogen-bonding interaction and its ethylene adsorption activity

Porous carbon materials are widely used in separation, catalysis and energy storage/conversion. We have synthesized a new porous carbon material by solvent evaporation induced self assembly method using hydroquinone/formaldehyde as a precursor which can help self assembly with template triblock copolymer PEO-PPO-PEO (F127). The template removal have resulted the porous carbon material (PCM) framework upon carbonization. We have also prepared porous carbon fibers (PCF) using kapok fibers along with hydroquinone/formaldehyde/F127 and observed its ethylene adsorption capacity. Kapok fibers were obtained from the plant species Ceiba pentandra. The characterization of PCM and PCF were accomplished by microanalysis, powder X-ray diffraction, FTIR, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis, elemental analysis and N₂ adsorption?Cdesorption isotherm. The prepared carbon materials (PCM and PCF) showed excellent gas absorption ability towards ethylene gas at room temperature as well as at 50?°C.