Synthesis of ordered mesoporous carbon containing highly dispersed copper-sulphur compounds in the carbon framework via a nanocasting route

We report a synthesis of ordered mesoporous carbon containing highly dispersed copper-sulphur particles in its carbon framework via the nanocasting route, involving the use of SBA-15 as the template and copper(II) phthalocyanine-tetrasulfonic acid tetrasodium salt (denoted as PcS) as the single precursor. It was found that below a pyrolysis temperature of 600 degrees C, PcS molecules are stable, allowing the formation of stable nanocast carbon. However, at higher pyrolysis temperature, PcS molecules decompose to carbon and copper-sulphur compounds in the carbon framework, or big copper particles, depending on the conditions. The obtained carbons show tunable specific surface areas in the range of 530-980 m(2)/g and pore volumes in the range of 0.5-1.2 cm(3)/g. Using phthalocyanine as carbon precursor, it is possible to directly prepare nanocast carbon containing highly dispersed metallic nanoparticles in its skeleton. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.