Advanced Heteroatom-Doped Porous Carbon Membranes Assisted by Poly(ionic liquid) Design and Engineering

Abstract

Conspectus Heteroatom-doped porous carbon membranes (HPCMMs) with a tailor-made pore architecture, chemical composition, atomic structural order, and surface state represent an exciting family of porous carbon materials for diverse potential applications in catalysis, water treatment, biofiltration, energy conversion/storage, and so forth. Conventional porous carbon membranes possess intrinsic structural integrity, interconnectivity, and chemical purity across the atomic-to-macro world and have been popularly incorporated into devices as separators or chemically inert conductive supports, circumventing otherwise the inevitable complicated processing and structure weakness of their fine powderous counterpart. Motivated by the distinguished heteroatom-doping effect that revolutionizes the chemical and physical nature of carbon materials, the HPCMM research surges very recently, and focuses not only on the eminent conductive supports or separators but also on electro(co)catalysts in energy devices. Synergy of the porous nature, incorporation of heteroatoms, and the membrane state creates a vivid profile pattern and new task-specific usage. It is also noteworthy that the inherent structural merits of HPCMMs plus a high electron conductivity imbue them as a reliable binder-free model electrode to derive the intrinsic structure–property relationship of porous carbons in electrochemical environments, excluding the complex and adverse factors in association with polymer binders in carbon powder-based electrodes. HPCMMs are of both intense academic interest and practical value because of their well-defined properties endowed by controllable structure and porosity at both atomic and macroscopic scales in a membrane form. The sole aim of this article is to bring this group of porous carbon materials to the forefront so their comprehensive properties and functions can be better understood to serve the carbon community to address pressing materials challenges in our society. In this Account, we highlight the latest discovery and proceedings of HPCMMs, particularly the advancements in how to tailor structures and properties of HPCMMs by rational structure design of porous polymer membranes as sacrificial template built up especially from heteroatom-rich poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs). We will also stress the carbonization craft and the state-of-the-art electrochemical applications for HPCMMs. Key factors and thoughts in heteroatom doping and porous systems in HPCMMs are discussed. A future perspective of the challenges and promising potential of HPCMMs is cast on the basis of these achievements.

Ultratough and ultrastrong graphene oxide hybrid filmsviaa polycationitrile approach

“…Such structure motif is often seen in poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) and is also designable in general ionic polymers. [53][54][55] This macromolecular crosslinking tool is capable of cyclizing nitrile groups into triazine-based networks very efficiently at ambient condition via mild NH 3 vapor treatment. 56 We envision that the newly established polycationitrile concept is a game-changer to address molecular or nanoscale interfaces abundant especially in 2D hybrid materials.…”

Reduced Graphene Oxide-Poly (Ionic Liquid) Composite Films of High Mechanical Performance

“…The preparation of rGO/PIL nanocomposite films is schematically illustrated in Figure 1. The monomer1-benzyl-3vinylimidazolium chloride, termed IL, carrying simultaneously an imidazolium and a phenyl functionality was synthesized through a one-step quaternization reaction of 1-vinyl imidazole with benzyl chloride; IL was then radically polymerized (Figure 1) to poly(1-benzyl-3-vinylimidazolium chloride), abbreviated here as PIL (Men et al, 2013;Grygiel et al, 2015;Shao et al, 2020;Wang et al, 2020;Zhang et al, 2020). Its chemical structure and macromolecular features were characterized and confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR) spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC), respectively (Supplementary Figures 1, 2).…”

Template-synthesis of a poly(ionic liquid)-derived Fe1−xS/nitrogen-doped porous carbon membrane and its electrode application in lithium–sulfur batteries

“…In the case of porous carbon membranes (PCMs), their macropores may come directly from that of the porous polymeric membranes, and the secondary micro/mesopores can be derived from the pyrolytic decomposition of the polymeric precursor. 15 PIL has been previously utilized as the carbon precursors in the synthesis of PCMs due to their favorable physical and chemical properties, such as high thermostability and the tunable nitrogen content in the final carbon product. 4,33 Metal components, such as cobalt nanoparticles or gold nanoparticles, have been introduced into PIL-derived PCMs previously by carbonization of a mixture of the metal salt and the porous polymer membranes.…”

“…There has been recently increasing interest in synthesizing and applying N-PCMs as an electrode in various electrochemical devices. 15 …”