Direct triblock-copolymer-templating synthesis of highly ordered fluorinated mesoporous carbon

Highly ordered mesoporous carbons have been synthesized from a direct triblock-copolymer-templating process of organic-organic self-assembly. The organic precursors are phenol, formaldehyde, and a functional monomer of p-fluorophenol, and the organic structure directing agent is triblock copolymer Pluronic F127. Characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and nitrogen adsorption techniques reveals that the fluorinated carbons possess highly ordered mesostructures, high surface areas (693-998 m(2)/g) large pore sizes (3.0-4.4 nm), large pore volumes (0.43-0.70 cm(3)/g), and C-F covalent bonds after high-temperature carbonization at 900 degrees C. Various mesostructures such as 2D hexagonal and 3D body-centered cubic structures can be synthesized by simply tuning the ratios of p-fluorophenot/phenol or phenol/triblock copolymer. The fluorinated mesoporous carbon modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode exhibits higher electron transfer rate than both pure mesoporous carbon FDU-15 modified and bare GC electrodes. This result further indicates the fluorination of mesoporous carbons and the potential for fluorinated mesoporous carbons in electrocatalytic reactions.