Co-gelation synthesis of porous graphitic carbons with high surface area and their applications

An easy co-gelation route has been developed to synthesize porous graphitic carbons with high surface areas by using teraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), furfuryl alcohol (FA), and metal nitrates as precursors. Using a one-pot co-gelation process, a polyfurfuryl alcohol–silica interpenetrating framework with metal ions uniformly dispersed was formed during the polymerization of FA and the hydrolysis of TEOS within an ethanol solution of the three precursors. This synthesis process is simple and time-saving in comparison with the conventional preparation methods. During the heat treatment, Fe₇Co₃ alloy nanoparticles were produced by carbothermal reduction and they then catalyzed the graphitization of the amorphous carbon. The graphitic carbons obtained have a high crystallinity as shown by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis. The degree of graphitization can be controlled by the varying the loading amount of catalyst. The porous texture of the carbons combines miropores and bimodal mesopores, mainly originating from the silica template formed with different sizes and the loose packing of the graphite sheets. The carbons have large surface areas (up to 909 m²/g) and exhibit excellent electrochemical performance.