Multifunctional hierarchical porous carbon aerogels

Abstract

A novel method for forming unique carbon aerogels may be provided. The method may include drying a precursor composition including an organic molecule. The method may include generating a porous aerogel by graphitizing the organic molecule (such as a self-assembling protein, a sugar, etc.). The organic molecule may be a phase transition material, where the heating leads to formation of a viscous melt pool, and further heating of which releases gases such as CO2, NH3, H2S, SO2, etc. Due to the use of such a phase transition material, generating the porous aerogel may be accomplished without a separate gas generant. The graphitizing may include heating the precursor composition to a first temperature of 300-1200° C. at a first heating rate. The graphitizing may include holding the precursor composition at the first temperature for a holding time no more than 48 hours.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.