Synthesis of heat-resistant mesoporous SiOC ceramic and its hydrogen adsorption

Abstract

High-temperature stable mesoporous SiOC ceramic was prepared by the self-assembling reaction between an anionic surfactant and the inorganic precursor N-trimethoxylsilylpropyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride, followed by calcination at 600 °C under nitrogen. The preferred structure was adjusted by varying the co-structure directing agent (CSDA)/surfactant ratio, which allows for better control of the nanoscale morphologies of mesoporous SiOC. The microstructural change was thoroughly investigated by BET, SAXS, TEM, and 29Si NMR. The obtained SiOC products exhibited a high surface area, up to 1762 m2 g−1, with uniform pore size distribution, which was only reduced to 1403 m2 g−1 when exposed to 800 °C in air. In particular, the mesoporous product showed 1.1 wt% of H2 sorption at 298 K and 25 atm, which could be extended into hydrogen storage materials.