Synthesis of carbon monoliths with a multi-modal pore system by a one step impregnation technique

Carbon monoliths with a multi-modal hierarchical porosity have been prepared by a nanocasting method with silica monoliths as the scaffold, in which volume and surface templating has been successfully combined in a one-step impregnation approach, and the smaller pores in the silica template are impregnated in a straightforward way. The monoliths obtained at different stages of the process were characterized by N-2-adsorption, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. It is shown that the carbon monoliths represent a positive replica of the starting silica monoliths on the micrometer scale. The surface templated mesopores can be regarded as a positive replica, while the volume templated mesopores are a negative replica of the silica scaffold.