Abstract
The influence of NH(4)NO(3) and NH(4)ClO(4) on the porous texture and structure development of activated carbons produced from a non-porous polymeric precursor synthesized from furfuryl alcohol has been studied. The non-doped counterparts were prepared and studied for comparison purposes. NH(4)NO(3) and NH(4)ClO(4)-doped polymers were carbonized under N(2) atmosphere at 600 °C, followed by CO(2) activation at 1000 °C and the obtained carbon materials and activated carbons were thoroughly characterized. The porosity characterization data have shown that NH(4)NO(3)-derived ACs present the highest specific surface area (up to 1523 m(2)/g in the experimental conditions studied), and the resulting porosity distributions are strongly dependent on the activation conditions. Thus, 1 h activation is optimum for the microporosity development, whereas larger activation times lead to micropores enlargement and conversion into mesopores. The type of doping salts used also has a substantial impact on the surface chemical composition, i.e., C=O groups. Moreover, NH(4)NO(3) and NH(4)ClO(4) constitute good sources of nitrogen. The type and contribution of nitrogen species are dependent on the preparation conditions. Quaternary nitrogen only appears in doped samples prepared by carbonization and pyrrolic, pyrydinic, and nitrogen oxide groups appear in the NH(4)NO(3) -series. NH(4)NO(3) incorporation has led to optimized materials towards CO(2) and C(2)H(4) sorption with just 1 h activation time.