Preparation of high specific surface area carbon aerogels by conventional drying and their performance in microstructure

Carbon aerogels(CAs) and activated CAs doped with surfactant P123(PEO-PPO-PEO, molecular weight: 5 800) were prepared by conventional drying. SEM images show a handsome network structure of CAs prepared by conventional drying, and the network structure becomes more compact after activation. FTIR spectra show that there is strong interaction between P123 and RF (resorcinol-formaldehyde), and P123 disappears after carbonization. TG and DTG curve analyses indicate that the P123 is not a kind of impurity for it decomposes completely after carbonization at 440 ℃. Characterized by nitrogen adsorption, CAs prepared by conventional drying have a high specific surface area of 570 m2g-1, which is up to about 3 500 m2g-1 after activation.