New Porous Carbon Material Derived from Carbon Microspheres Assembled in Hollow Carbon Spheres and Its Application to Toluene Adsorption

Abstract

In this paper, a new porous carbon material adsorbent was prepared using carbon microspheres assembled in hollow carbon spheres (HCS) with a hydrothermal method. Transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the adsorbents. It was found that the diameter of carbon microspheres derived from 0.1 mol/L glucose was about 130 nm, which could be inserted inside HCS (pore size was 370−450 nm). The increase in glucose concentration would promote the diameter of carbon microspheres (CSs), and coarse CSs could not be loaded in the mesopores or macropores of HCS. Thus, the C 0.1 @HCS adsorbent had the highest Brunauer−Emmett−Teller surface area (1945 m 2 /g) and total pore volume (1.627 cm 3 /g). At the same time, C 0.1 @HCS posed a suitable ratio of micropores and mesopores, which could provide adsorption sites and volatile organic compound diffusion channels. Moreover, oxygen-containing functional groups −OH and C�O in CSs were also introduced into HCS, and the adsorption capacity and regenerability performance of the adsorbents were improved. The dynamic adsorption capacity of C 0.1 @HCS for toluene reached 813 mg/g, and the Bangham model was more suitable for describing the toluene adsorption process. The adsorption capacity was stably kept above 770 mg/g after eight adsorption−desorption cycles.

Influence of Volatile Organic Compound Adsorption on the Characteristics of Organic Field-Effect Transistors and Rules for Gas-Sensing Measurements

“…Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are widely used as additives and solvents in industry and daily life. Most VOCs are toxic, carcinogenic, and combustible, seriously threatening human health and safety. − Therefore, the detection of VOCs in the atmosphere is essential. Organic semiconductors (OS) have recently received increasing attention in gas sensors because of their potential applications in flexible and wearable electronics. − In addition, organic semiconductors are genius for VOC gas-sensing applications because the precise organic synthesis can tailor functional groups for the specific binding of VOC analytes, leading to the prospect of simplifying gas sensors with enhanced responsivity and selectivity …”