Synthesis and structural characteristics of carbon aerogels with a high content of Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Pd

High content metal carbon aerogels have been prepared by sol–gel polymerization of formaldehyde with potassium salt of 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, followed by K+-exchange with Fe(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Pd(II) ions from an aqueous or acetoneous solution and subsequent supercritical drying with CO2. Carbonization at 1050 °C, under an inert atmosphere, transforms the metal ion doped organic aerogels into metal and/or metal oxide nanoparticles-doped carbon aerogels. The resulting materials were characterized by means of elemental analysis, nitrogen adsorption, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The structural properties and metal concentration of the doped carbon aerogel depend on the type and valence of the precursor metal salt. The presence of some graphitic nano-ribbons was evidenced in the case of Fe-, Co-, and Ni-doped carbon aerogels.