Facile synthesis of ordered mesoporous carbon monolith with close-packed microspheres structure through emulsion templating

Carbonaceous monoliths with captivating interior compartmentalized structure hold a great potential for numerous applications, but their synthesis is extremely challenging due to lack of viable synthesis approaches. To address this challenge, herein, we report a method for access to an unprecedented carbonaceous monolith with compartment structure by taking advantage of the interface and the limited coalescence phenomenon occurring in emulsions stabilized by solid particles. The developed monolith consists of three dimensionally close-packed ordered mesoporous carbon microspheres with excellent mechanical strength, high specific surface area and homogeneous nitrogen doping. The unique structure is unattainable for the conventional bulk synthesis even at exactly the same conditions. Moreover, the strategy makes it possible to tailor the interior structure of the monolith through precisely controlling synthesis conditions. More importantly, we envision that the Pickering droplet-based synthesis strategy along with its synthesis mechanism may open up a new avenue to preparation of various macroscopic materials with interior compartment structures in view of its high degree of flexibility and control, and further brings great opportunity for fascinating practical applications.