Directed synthesis of nanoporous carbons from task-specific ionic liquid precursors for the adsorption of CO₂

Postcombustion CO₂ capture has become a key component of greenhouse-gas reduction as anthropogenic emissions continue to impact the environment. We report a one-step synthesis of porous carbon materials using a series of task-specific ionic liquids for the adsorption of CO₂. By varying the structure of the ionic liquid precursor, we were able to control pore architecture and surface functional groups of the carbon materials in this one-step synthesis process leading to adsorbents with high CO₂ sorption capacities (up to 4.067 mmol g^-1) at 0°C and 1 bar. Added nitrogen functional groups led to high CO₂/N₂ adsorption-selectivity values ranging from 20 to 37 whereas simultaneously the interaction energy was enhanced relative to carbon materials with no added nitrogen.