Organic carbon aerogels from the sol-gel polymerization of phenolic- furfural mixtures

摘要

The sol-gel polymerization of a phenolic-furfural mixture in dilute solution leads to a highly cross-linked network that can be supercritically dried to form a high surface area foam. These porous materials have cell/pore sizes ≦1000 Å, and although they are dark brown in color, they can be classified as a new type of aerogel. The phenolic-furfural aerogel can be pyrolyzed in an inert atmosphere at 1050. degree. C. to produce carbon aerogels. This new aerogel may be used for thermal insulation, chromatographic packing, water filtration, ion- exchange, and carbon electrodes for energy storage devices, such as batteries and double-layer capacitors.