Preparation and characterization of ordered mesoporous carbons on SBA-15 template

Ordered mesoporous carbons with high surface area were synthesized using SBA-15 as template at different temperatures. In the process, the precursor ferric acetylacetonate serves as the carbon source for nanofiber formation. In comparison with the morphology of carbon nanotube-encapsulated iron prepared without templates, the orientation of the carbon materials is controlled by the pore direction of the template. The microstructures of the mesoporous carbons are strongly dependent on the temperature of synthesis. Higher synthetic temperatures resulted in ordered mesoporous carbons with larger BET surface areas, pore diameters and increased pore volumes.