Synthesis and surface characterization of mesoporous carbon for the adsorption of methane gas

This study was designed to synthesize mesoporous carbon, porous carbonic material and to characterize its surface in an attempt to adsorption methane gas(CH4). Synthesis of mesoporous carbon was carried out under two steps ; 1. forming a RF-silica complex with a mold using CTMABr, a surfactant, and TEOS, raw material of silica, and 2. eliminating silica through carbonization and HF treatment. The mesoporous carbon was synthesized under various conditions of synthesis time and calcination. Eight different types of mesoporous carbon, which were designated as MC1, MC2, MC3, MC4, MCT1, MCT2, MCT3, and MCT4, were prepared depending upon preparation conditions. The analysis of mesoporous carbon characteristics showed that the calcination of silica stabilized the mixed structure of silica and carbonic complex, and made the particle uniform. The results also showed that hydrothermal synthesis time did not have a strong influence on the size of pore. The bigger specific surface area was obtained as the hydrothermal synthesis time was extended. However, the specific surface area was getting smaller again after a certain period of time. In adsorption experiments, CH4 was used as adsorbate. For the case of CH4, MCT3 showed the highest adsorption efficiency.