Synthesis of spheroidal ordered mesoporous carbon materials from silica/P123/butanol composites

Spheroidal ordered mesoporous carbon materials with diameter of 2–10 μm were synthesized by direct carbonization of silica/triblock copolymer P123/butanol composites using P123 and butanol as the structure-directing agents and carbon precursors. The morphologies, structures and pore characteristics of the carbon materials were investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopes, X-ray diffraction, and nitrogen sorption. It was found that the material possesses a cubic ordered mesoporous structure with Ia3d symmetry. The butanol addition directly affects the carbon morphology and pore structure. When the mass ratio of butanol to P123 is 0.5:1, the product exhibits a perfectly spheroidal morphology with a specific surface area of 1236 m2 g−1 and a total pore volume of 1.26 cm3 g−1. The formation mechanism of the spheroidal ordered mesoporous carbon materials is discussed briefly.