Synthesis and catalytic applications of self-assembled carbon nanofoams

The synthesis of a new form of carbon, termed carbon nanofoam (CNF), which exhibits higher surface area, tunable pore sizes and electrical conductivity was investigated. The preparation involves only three steps, including templating of the carbon precursor, furfuryl alcohol, with a long-chain aliphatic alcohol surfactant to form an ordered mesostructure and polymerization of the templated carbon precursor. The long-chain aliphatic alcohol surfactant was dissolved in furfuryl alcohol at 60°C, and then cooled to room temperature to produce a waxy liquid-crystalline solid, which produced birefringence under a cross-polarized optical microscope. The mixture of furfuryl alcohol and aliphatic alcohol at 40°C was subjected to curing through the introduction of a small amount of p-toluene sulfonic acid, and was slowly heated to 120°C. Palladium cluster growth and agglomeration was demonstrated and high activity was exhibited even after multiple runs.