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Cesium Ion‐Mediated Microporous Carbon for CO 2 Capture and Lithium‐Ion Storage
Author(s) -
Lee Hyeon Jeong,
Ko Dongah,
Kim JooSeong,
Park Youngbin,
Hwang Insu,
Yavuz Cafer T.,
Choi Jang Wook
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
chemnanomat
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.947
H-Index - 32
ISSN - 2199-692X
DOI - 10.1002/cnma.202000541
Subject(s) - microporous material , carbon fibers , activated carbon , potassium hydroxide , inorganic chemistry , ion , nitrogen , chemical engineering , materials science , lithium (medication) , chemistry , adsorption , organic chemistry , medicine , composite number , engineering , composite material , endocrinology
Abstract Activated carbon has been used in a wide range of applications owing to its large specific area, facile synthesis, and low cost. The synthesis of activated carbon mostly relies on potassium hydroxide (KOH)‐mediated activation which leads to the formation of micropores (<2 nm) after a washing step with acid. Here we report the preparation of activated carbon with an anomalously large surface area (3288 m 2 g −1 ), obtained by employing an activation process mediated by cesium (Cs) ions. The high affinity of the carbon lattice for Cs ions induces immense interlayer expansion upon complexation of the intercalant Cs ion with the carbon host. Furthermore, the Cs‐activation process maintains the nitrogen content of the carbon source by enabling the activation process at low temperature. The large surface area and well‐preserved nitrogen content of Cs‐activated carbon takes advantage of its enhanced interaction with CO 2 molecules (for superior CO 2 capture) and lithium ions (for improved Li ion storage), respectively. The present investigation unveils a new approach toward tuning the key structural properties of activated carbon; that is, controlling the affinity of the carbon host for the intercalant ion when they engage in complex formation during the activation process.