Methods and systems for producing carbon aerogel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016244332-A1
Application number	US-201315033002-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 31, 2013
Priority date	Oct 31, 2013
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods described herein generally relate to producing carbon aerogel. The method may include providing a carbon-containing polymeric material, and contacting the carbon-containing polymeric material with light, heat or both to produce the carbon aerogel. Systems and kits for producing carbon aerogel are also disclosed.

First claim

1 . A method of producing carbon aerogel, the method comprising:
providing a carbon-containing polymeric material; exposing the carbon-containing polymeric material to at least one of light or heat selected to produce a carbon aerogel powder; and collecting the produced carbon aerogel powder.

2 . (canceled)

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbon-containing polymeric material comprises a synthetic polymer, a natural polymer, or a combination thereof.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbon-containing polymeric material comprises epoxy resin, phenolic resin, urea resin, camphor, castor oil, turpentine, polypropylene, polystyrene, or a combination thereof.

5 - 8 . (canceled)

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising raising a temperature of the carbon-containing polymeric material to about 350° C. to about 650° C. when the carbon-containing polymeric material is exposed to light.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein exposing the carbon-containing polymeric material comprises irradiating the carbon-containing polymeric material with the light for about 2 seconds to about 1 minute.

11 . (canceled)

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the light comprises a light beam produced by a laser that has a power of at least about 5 W.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the light beam has a wavelength of about 200 nm to about 11 μm.

14 - 15 . (canceled)

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the light comprises a focused beam of sunlight.

17 - 18 . (canceled)

19 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising heating the carbon-containing polymeric material for at least 10 minutes when the carbon-containing polymeric material is exposed to.

20 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising heating the carbon-containing polymeric material for about 2 seconds to 1 minute when the carbon-containing polymeric material is exposed to.

21 - 23 . (canceled)

24 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the produced carbon aerogel powder comprises carbon nanoparticles.

25 . (canceled)

26 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the carbon nanoparticles have an average size of about 30 nm to about 75 nm.

27 - 28 . (canceled)

29 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the carbon nanoparticles have an average size of about 50 nm to about 55 nm.

30 . The method of claim 24 , wherein at least about 60% of the carbon nanoparticles have a size of about 30 nm to about 75 nm.

31 . (canceled)

33 . The method of claim 24 , wherein at least about 50% of the carbon nanoparticles are porous carbon nanoparticles.

34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the porous carbon nanoparticles have an average pore diameter of at least about 1.5 nm and not more than about 50 nm.

35 . (canceled)

36 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the carbon aerogel powder has a porous structure with an average pore diameter of about 2.5 nm.

37 . (canceled)

38 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the carbon aerogel powder has a BET surface area of about 600 m 2 /g to about 1100 m 2 /g.

39 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the carbon aerogel powder has a bulk density of about 6 mg/cm 3 .

40 - 66 . (canceled)

67 . A method of producing carbon aerogel, the method comprising:
providing a carbon-containing polymeric material including at least one of epoxy resin, phenolic resin, urea resin, camphor, castor oil, turpentine, polypropylene, or polystyrene; exposing the carbon-containing polymeric material to at least one of light or heat selected to produce the carbon aerogel; and collecting the produced carbon aerogel.

68 . The method of claim 67 , wherein exposing the carbon-containing polymeric material to the at least one of light or heat produces carbon aerogel including a carbon aerogel powder that includes carbon nanoparticles.

69 . The method of claim 68 , wherein the carbon nanoparticles have an average size of about 30 nm to about 75 nm.

70 . The method of claim 68 , wherein the carbon nanoparticles have an average size of about 50 nm to about 55 nm.

Assignees

• Univ East China Science & Tech

Inventors

• Zhao Chongjun
• Dong Jianbo
• Huang Youfu
• Ma Jingwei
• Qian Xiuzhen

Classifications

• B01J13/0052

  Preparation of gels · CPC title

• C01B32/05

  Preparation or purification of carbon not covered by groups C01B32/15, C01B32/20, C01B32/25, C01B32/30 · CPC title

• C01B32/15 Primary

  Nano-sized carbon materials · CPC title

• C01B32/00

  Carbon; Compounds thereof (C01B21/00, C01B23/00 take precedence; percarbonates C01B15/10; carbon black C09C1/48) · CPC title

• C01P2004/64

  Nanometer sized, i.e. from 1-100 nanometer · CPC title