PolyHIPEs are porous emulsion-templated polymers that are usually synthesized within surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). Typical polyHIPEs have highly interconnected porous structures, low bulk densities, and the ability to rapidly absorb large quantities of liquid through capillary action. The miscibility of acrylonitrile (AN) with water has made it difficult to synthesize PAN-based polyHIPEs. The successful synthesis of PAN-based polyHIPEs by crosslinking through copolymerization with divinylbenzene (DVB), by stabilization with a polyglycerol polyricinoleate surfactant, and by initiation with both oil- and water-soluble initiators will be described. The PAN-based polyHIPEs had porosities of over 86 % and porous structures that were different from those of typical of polyHIPEs. Pyrolysis of these PAN-based polyHIPEs was used to produce porous carbon monoliths. Pyrolysis did not produce significant changes in the porous structures, which were quite similar to those of the original polyHIPEs. The porosities were around 95 % and the carbon monoliths were largely macroporous and mesoporous, with some microporosity. Alternative routes to emulsion-templated polymer precursors for porous carbon will also be described. These results demonstrate that polyHIPE templates can be used for the a priori design of porous carbon monoliths.

Emulsion-templated polymer precursors for highly porous carbon monoliths

245th National Meeting (2013)

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