Freeze drying for preparation of aerogel-like carbon

RF hydrogels were synthesized by the sol-gel polycondensation of resorcinol with formaldehyde and RF cryogels were prepared by freeze drying of the hydrogels with t-butanol. The cryogels were characterized by nitrogen adsorption, density measurements, and scanning electron microscope. Their porous properties were compared with those of the aerogels prepared by supercritical drying with carbon dioxide. RF cryogels were mesoporous materials with large mesopore volumes > 5.8 x 10(-4) m(3)/kg. Although surface areas and mesopore volumes of the cryogels were smaller than those of the aerogels, the cryogels were useful precursors of mesoporous carbons. Aerogel-like carbons (carbon cryogels) were obtained by pyrolyzing RF cryogels in an inert atmosphere. The carbon cryogels were mesoporous materials with high surface areas > 8.0 x 10(5) m(2)/kg and large mesopore volumes > 5.5 x 10(-4) m(3)/kg. When pyrolyzed, micropores were formed inside the cryogels more easily than inside the aerogels.