NaCl template synthesis of N-doped porous carbon from magnesium gluconate for efficient CO2 adsorption

Porous carbon is a very promising type of CO 2 adsorbent due to its excellent stability, low cost, and tunable physicochemical properties. In the current work, N-doped hierarchically porous carbon was synthesized with the assistance of NaCl template and KHCO 3 activation. A series of carbons with three dimensional and interconnected micro- meso -macroporous structure were successfully prepared. Effects of synthesis conditions on textural properties and N-doping were analyzed and discussed with details. The carbons also exhibited high surface area (725–2423 m 2 /g) and N content (1.49–7.93 wt%). CO 2 adsorption properties were studied with a combined experimental and theoretical approach. At 25 °C and 1 bar, the carbons exhibited CO 2 uptake up to 4.22 mmol/g and CO 2 /N 2 selectivity up to 25.6. Grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation was employed to further elucidate the different roles played by N-doping and textural properties during CO 2 adsorption. Effects of various N-functionalities located in pores with different sizes on CO 2 adsorption were thus revealed. The present study presents a novel strategy for controlled synthesis of porous carbons, and provides helpful insights into their CO 2 adsorption behaviors.