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Topological Defects: Origin of Nanopores and Enhanced Adsorption Performance in Nanoporous Carbon
Author(s) -
Guo Junjie,
Morris James R.,
Ihm Yungok,
Contescu Cristian I.,
Gallego Nidia C.,
Duscher Gerd,
Pennycook Stephen J.,
Chisholm Matthew F.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201200894
Subject(s) - nanopore , materials science , graphene , furfuryl alcohol , carbon fibers , stacking , nanoporous , adsorption , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , chemical physics , composite material , organic chemistry , chemistry , composite number , engineering , catalysis
A scanning transmission electron microscopy investigation of two nanoporous carbon materials, wood‐based ultramicroporous carbon and poly(furfuryl alcohol)‐derived carbon, is reported. Atomic‐resolution images demonstrate they comprise isotropic, three‐dimensional networks of wrinkled one‐atom‐thick graphene sheets. In each graphene plane, nonhexagonal defects are frequently observed as connected five‐ and seven‐atom rings. Atomic‐level modeling shows that these topological defects induce localized rippling of graphene sheets, which interferes with their graphitic stacking and induces nanopores that lead to enhanced adsorption of H 2 molecules. The poly(furfuryl alcohol)‐derived carbon contains larger regions of stacked layers, and shows significantly smaller surface area and pore volume than the ultramicroporous carbon.