Supercritical fluid growth of porous carbon nanocages

Carbon nanocages, with remarkably large mesoporous volumes, have been synthesized by the deposition of p-xylene over a Co/Mo catalyst in supercritical carbon dioxide. Nanocages with diameters ranging between 10 and 60 nm were synthesized at temperatures between 650 and 750 °C. The surface area and pore volume of the nanocages produced was found to depend on the reaction temperature and pressure employed. In particular, carbon nanocages with a pore volume of up to 5.8 cm ³ g ^-1 and a BET surface area of 1240 m ² g ^-1 were readily synthesized at a temperature of 650 °C and a pressure of 10.34 MPa. The high pore volume and surface area of the carbon nanocages synthesized makes them ideal materials for use as inert adsorbents and catalytic supports.