Soft-templated mesoporous carbons: Chemistry and structural characteristics

Soft-templated mesoporous carbon is a relatively newer variety of synthetic nanoporous carbon. This type of carbon is templated by the micellar actions of amphiphilic surfactants with the phenolic type of carbon precursors. The role of surfactants is similar to that of silica in the case of hard-templating, i.e., to dictate the structural characteristics and mesoporosity of the carbons. A wide variety of amphiphilic surfactants along with synthetic and natural precursors were employed for use as a carbon source. Despite being termed as mesoporous carbon, these materials usually contain a large fraction of micropore distribution which is clearly observed in the type IV nature of nitrogen adsorption-desorption plot. Because of the unique mesopore feature of such carbon, it has found wide application in several unique fields of science and technology. This particular review briefly discusses the synthesis protocols of mesoporous carbons, including the types of carbon precursors and surfactants along with their critical role in dictating the structural characteristics. It also introduces the role of physical and chemical activation in enhancing the porosity and the key structural features of soft-templated mesoporous carbons.