Synthesis and Characterisation of Carbide Derived Carbons

Abstract: Carbide derived carbons (CDCs) have been synthesised through chlorination of VC, TiC, WC, TaC, NbC, HfC and ZrC at different temperatures. The aim of the investigation was to systematically study changes of structural and adsorption properties depending on the synthesis conditions. CDCs were characterised using nitrogen and carbon dioxide adsorption, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and electron energy loss spectroscopy. The studies revealed the CDCs structures to range from amorphous to ordered, from microporous to mesoporous. It was found that structural ordering and porosity can be modified by: i) synthesis temperature, ii) precursor, iii) density and volume of precursor, iv) catalysts, v) incorporation of nitrogen in to carbide structure, and CDCs can be tuned up to the demanded quality. They also exhibited a high potential for methane storage.