Structural changes in carbon aerogels with high temperature treatment

The structural change of carbon aerogels at high temperatures up to 2800 degreesC has been investigated. Change in microtexture of fine particles, which constitute carbon aerogels derived from phenolic resin, was of atypical non-graphitized carbon. The microporosity decreased with an increase of heat-treatment temperature, and disappeared at 2000 degreesC. The mesoporosity still remained even after heat-treatment up to 2800 degreesC, though 50% of mesopore volume was lost because of the fusion of the particles with the change of carbon microtexture. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.