One-step approach to Quaternary (B, N, P, S)-Doped hierarchical porous carbon derived from Quercus Brantii for highly selective and efficient CO2 Capture: A combined experimental and extensive DFT study

Recently, the enhancement of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration has a negative impact on the environment and human health. Adsorption is well recognized as a promising technology to control CO2 emission in which the design of an optimum adsorbent is one of the most critical challenges. In this article, multiheteroatoms doped porous carbons have been successfully derived from Quercus Brantii by one-step doping-activation to investigate the textural characteristics and heteroatoms doping effects on CO2 capture application. Based on the physicochemical properties of the adsorbents, which were characterized using varied techniques (FE-SEM, EDS, HR-TEM, XRD, FT-IR, XPS, BET, and BJH), the introduction of heteroatoms provides more active sites in carbon networks and develops the porous architecture of each activated carbon, resulting in diverse CO2 capture performances. The low content of phosphorus (P) incorporated in P-doped activated carbon (PAC) perfected the performance of CO2 capture to reach a high uptake (7.13 mmol g-1 at 1 bar and 20 degrees C) on a heterogeneous surface. Apart from the high equilibrium and dynamic CO2 uptake, these Quercus Brantii-based carbonaceous adsorbents present superior CO2 selectivity over N2, CH4, and H2, prominent cyclic regeneration capacity, high turnover frequency (TOF) and turnover number (TON) for commercial scale as well as fast kinetic adsorption. The density functional theory (DFT) method was performed to reveal the adsorption mechanisms as well as electronic properties of the systems.

Automated summary

This article investigates the characteristics and effects of multi-heteroatoms doped porous carbons in CO2 adsorption applications. The introduction of heteroatoms provides more active sites and develops the porous structure of activated carbons, resulting in diverse CO2 capture performances. The P-doped activated carbon (PAC) with low phosphorus content exhibits high CO2 uptake and selectivity, prominent cyclic regeneration capacity, high turnover frequency (TOF), and turnover number (TON) for commercial scale as well as fast kinetic adsorption. The density functional theory (DFT) method is used to reveal the adsorption mechanisms and electronic properties of the systems.