Microporous Borocarbonitrides BxCyNz: Synthesis, Characterization, and Promises for CO2 Capture

Porous borocarbonitrides (denoted BCN) were prepared through pyrolysis of the polymer stemmed from dehydrocoupled ethane 1,2-diamineborane (BH3NH2CH2CH2NH2BH3, EDAB) in the presence of F-127. These materials contain interconnected pores in the nanometer range with a high specific surface area up to 511 m(2) center dot g(-1). Gas adsorption of CO2 demonstrated an interesting uptake (3.23 mmol center dot g(-1) at 0 degrees C), a high CO2/N-2 selectivity as well as a significant recyclability after several adsorption-desorption cycles. For comparison's sake, a synthesized non-porous BCN as well as a commercial BN sample were studied to investigate the role of porosity and carbon doping factors in CO2 capture. The present work thus tends to demonstrate that the two-step synthesis of microporous BCN adsorbent materials from EDAB using a bottom-up approach (dehydrocoupling followed by pyrolysis at 1100 degrees C) is relatively simple and interesting.

Automated summary

Porous borocarbonitrides (BCN) were prepared by pyrolysis of the polymer derived from dehydrocoupled ethane 1,2-diamineborane (EDAB) with the presence of F-127. These materials exhibited nanometer-scale interconnected pores and a high specific surface area up to 511 m(2) center dot g(-1). Gas adsorption experiments showed their interesting CO2 uptake, high CO2/N2 selectivity, and good recyclability after multiple adsorption-desorption cycles. A comparison study with non-porous BCN and commercial BN samples revealed the importance of porosity and carbon doping for CO2 capture. This work demonstrated a simple and interesting two-step synthesis approach for microporous BCN adsorbents from EDAB.