Novel controlled synthesis of nanoporous carbon nanorods from resorcinol-formaldehyde xerogels

Abstract

A novel approach is discovered to produce carbon nanorods (CNRs) from resorcinol-formaldehyde xerogels. The structure and morphology of CNRs are characterized by pore size analysis, nano-scanning electron microscopy, elemental analyses and Raman spectra, FTIR spectroscopy. CNRs exhibited diameter ranges from 262 to 327 nm and lengths of up to several microns. The growth rate of CNRs depends fundamentally on the gelation temperature. CNRs’ structures exhibits nanopores with average pore sizes of 2.39 and ∼1.64 nm for CNRs produced from xerogels glated at 70 and 85 °C, respectively. It is anticipated for CNRs to open new gates for advanced nano-device applications.