Preparation of high surface area, graphitic porous carbon monolith
using magnetite nanoparticles as catalyst and porogens

A method to prepare monolithic porous graphitic carbon with high surface area was investigated using nanosize monodispersed magnetite particles (~10nm) as graphitization catalysts and a porogen template, and an oligomer derived from the polymerization of 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid with formaldehyde catalyzed by sodium carbonate as carbon source. The magnetite/oligomer composites were carbonized at 700-900℃ under a nitrogen atmosphere to generate graphitized carbon composites. Finally, monolithic porous graphitic carbon was obtained after HCl treatment to remove the iron-based particles. Results show that carbonization temperature has a great influence on the graphitization degree and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller （BET） surface area of the resultant products. The BET surface areas decreased and the graphitization degree of the products increased with carbonization temperature from 700 to 900℃. At a low carbonization temperature of 700℃, the templating effect of the magnetite particles (as porogens) can be clearly observed. Highly graphitic carbon with a high surface area can be obtained at 800℃.