Synthesis of heat-resistant mesoporous SiOC ceramic and its hydrogen adsorption

High-temperature stable mesoporous SiOC ceramic was prepared by the self-assembling reaction between an anionic surfactant and the inorganic precursor N-trimethoxylsilylpropyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride, followed by calcination at 600 degrees C under nitrogen. The preferred structure was adjusted by varying the co-structure directing agent (CSDA)/surfactant ratio, which allows for better control of the nanoscale morphologies of mesoporous SiOC. The microstructural change was thoroughly investigated by BET, SAXS, TEM, and Si-29 NMR. The obtained SiOC products exhibited a high surface area, up to 1762 m g(-1), with uniform pore size distribution, which was only reduced to 1403 m(2) g(-1) when exposed to 800 degrees C in air. In particular, the mesoporous product showed 1.1 wt% of H-2 sorption at 298 K and 25 atm, which could be extended into hydrogen storage materials.