MICROPORE STRUCTURE OF TEMPLATE-DERIVED CARBONS STUDIED USING ADSORPTION OF GASES WITH DIFFERENT MOLECULAR DIAMETERS

The microstructural properties of carbons obtained by carbonization of poly(furfuryl alcohol) within different smectite matrices have been s tudied by gas adsorption. A method based on the analysis of the gas ad sorption data using the relationship between the adsorption energy and micropore size, has been applied to evaluate micropore size distribut ions. The range of sensitivity of the method in relation to the adsorb ate molecular size is discussed. Three adsorbates, CH4, CF4 and SF6, h aving different molecular diameters were used and analyses of their ad sorption data have been used either to cross-validate the results obta ined or for complementary information. The relationships between the p ore size distribution, the adsorption energy distribution and the isos teric heat of adsorption are discussed. The calculated pore size distr ibutions for the synthetic carbons show differences related to the str ucture of the mineral matrix.