System and method for forming activated carbon aerogels and performing 3D printing
AssigneeLawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
InventorsSwetha Chandrasekaran, Theodore F. Baumann, Marcus A. Worsley
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Abstract
Making a carbon aerogel involves 3-D printing an ink to make a printed part, removing the solvent from the printed part, and carbonizing the printed part (with the solvent removed) to make the aerogel. The ink is based on a solution of a resorcinol-formaldehyde resin (RF resin), water, and an organic thickener. Advantageously, the RF resin contains an acid catalyst, which tends to produce carbon aerogels with higher surface areas upon activation than those produced from methods involving an ink composition containing a base catalyzed resin.
Claims5
A 3-D printing ink, comprising:
- water;
- an organic thickener selected from the group consisting of water soluble cellulose derivatives, polyoxyalkylene compounds, polyvinyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof;
- a resin that comprises resorcinol and formaldehyde;
- an acid catalyst that catalyzes a reaction between the resorcinol and formaldehyde;
- and
- a thixotropic additive;
- wherein the 3-D printing ink does not contain graphene oxide;
- and
- wherein the 3-D printing ink is a viscous thixotropic ink that is operable to gel after printing to form a printed part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.