Synthesis of ordered microporous carbons by chemical vapor deposition

A sequential carbon synthesis method for forming a methane microporous carbon adsorbent, the method comprising the steps of:

• introducing an organic precursor gas comprising an organic precursor for a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) period to a crystalline zeolite that is maintained at a CVD temperature such that a carbon-zeolite composite forms, where the introduced organic precursor adsorbs via CVD into the crystalline zeolite, the organic precursor converts into carbon within the crystalline zeolite forming a carbon template of a zeolite;
• introducing a non-reactive gas for a thermal treatment period to the carbon-zeolite composite maintained at a thermal treatment temperature such that the thermally-treated carbon-zeolite composite forms, where the carbon template of the zeolite within the crystalline zeolite converts into a thermally-treated carbon template of the zeolite;
• and
• introducing an aqueous strong mineral acid mixture to the thermally-treated carbon-zeolite composite such that crystalline zeolite dissolves and the methane microporous carbon adsorbent forms, where the methane microporous carbon adsorbent is a negative replica of the crystalline zeolite, has a BET specific surface area, a micropore volume, a micropore to mesopore volume ratio, a stored methane value and a methane delivered value.