A direct and quantitative image of the internal nanostructure of non-ordered porous monolithic porous carbon using FIB nanotomography

JUAN BALACH; FEDERICO MIGUEL; FLAVIO SOLDERA; DIEGO F. ACEVEDO; FRANK MÜCKLICH; CÉSAR A. BARBERO

JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY-OXFORD

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 2012 vol. 246 p. 274 - 278

0022-2720

Adirect study of the shape, size andconnectivity of nonordered pores in carbon materials is particularly challenging. A new method that allows direct three-dimensional (3D) investigations of mesopores in monolithic carbon materials and quantitative characterization of their physical properties (surface area and pore size distribution) is reported. Focused ion beam (FIB) nanotomography technique is performed by combination of focused ion beam and scanning electron microscope. Porous monolithic carbon is produced by carbonization of a resorcinol-formaldehyde gel in the presence of a cationic polyelectrolyte as a pore stabilizer.