Salt and sugar: direct synthesis of high surface area carbon materials at low temperatures via hydrothermal carbonization of glucose under hypersaline conditions

Abstract

Hydrothermal carbonization of carbohydrates, here glucose as a model, in salt–water mixtures results in high surface area carbonaceous materials with surface areas up to 650 m² g⁻¹ where porosity is created by aggregation of very small primary nanoparticles, similar to aerogels or high surface area soot. These materials can be obtained by simple washing with water and are useful without further activation processes. Furthermore, no special technical equipment for isolation is needed since the materials are exceptionally stable throughout vacuum drying, thus keeping the overall approach sustainable and very simple.