Projects per year
Abstract
Polydicyclopentadiene (pDCPD), a thermoset with excellent mechanical properties, has enormous potential as a lightweight, tough, and stable matrix material owing to its highly cross-linked macromolecular network. This work describes generating pDCPD-based foams and hierarchically porous carbons derived therefrom by combining ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of DCPD, high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) as structural templates, and subsequent carbonization. The structure and function of the carbon foams were characterized and discussed in detail using scanning electron, transmission electron, or atomic force microscopy (SEM, TEM, AFM), electron energy-loss spectroscopy (TEM-EELS), N2 sorption, and analyses of electrical conductivity as well as mechanical properties. The resulting materials exhibited uniform, shape-retaining shrinkage of only ∼1/3 after carbonization. No structural failure was observed even when the pDCPD precursor foams were heated to 1400 °C. Instead, the high porosity, void size, and 3D interconnectivity were fully preserved, and the void diameters could be adjusted between 87 and 2.5 μm. Moreover, foams have a carbon content >97%, an electronic conductivity of up to 2800 S·m–1, a Young’s modulus of up to 2.1 GPa, and a specific surface area of up to 1200 m2·g–1. Surprisingly, the pDCPD foams were carbonized into shapes other than monoliths, such as 10’s of micron thick membranes or foamy coatings adhered to a metal foil or grid substrate. The latter coatings even adhere upon bending. Finally, as a use case, carbonized foams were applied as porous cathodes for Li–O2 batteries where the foams show a favorable combination of porosity, active surface area, and pore size for outstanding capacity.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 14381-14390 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | ACS Applied Energy Materials |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 11 |
Early online date | 16 Oct 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 28 Nov 2022 |
Keywords
- carbonization
- emulsion templating
- polyHIPEs
- porous cathode
- ROMP
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemical Engineering (miscellaneous)
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
- Materials Chemistry
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Electrochemistry
Fields of Expertise
- Advanced Materials Science
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Carbon Foams via Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization of Emulsion Templates: A Facile Method to Make Carbon Current Collectors for Battery Applications'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Active
-
Porous Materials @ Work for Sustainability
Carraro, F., Stana Kleinschek, K., Rath, T., Subotić, V., Resel, R., Velasquez Hernandez, M., Emmerstorfer-Augustin, A., Linares Moreau, M. D. L. M., Nidetzky, B., Zojer, E., Sommitsch, C., Kienberger, M., Spirk, S., Amenitsch, H., Zojer, K., Schultze, M., Würschum, R., Gescheidt-Demner, G., Kargl, R., Zhong, C., Falcaro, P., Hengge, E., Steyskal, E., Borisov, S., Trimmel, G., Slugovc, C. & Wieser, S.
1/09/22 → 31/08/25
Project: Research project