Fabrication of continuous mesoporous carbon films with face-centered orthorhombic symmetry through a soft templating pathway

Preparation of well-ordered continuous mesoporous carbon films without the use of an intermediate inorganic template was achieved by spin coating of a thermosetting phenolic resin, resorcinol/ phloroglucinol/formaldehyde, and a thermally-decomposable organic template, Pluronic F127 ( PEO106-PPO70-PEO106). The carbon films were deposited onto silicon, platinum/silicon, copper, glass, and quartz substrates. Afterwards, decomposition of the organic template and solidification of the carbon precursors are simultaneously performed through a carbonization process. The resulting films referred to as CKU-F69, are (010)-oriented, and possess a facecentered orthorhombic Fmmm symmetry. Film periodicity is maintained even after a 68% uniaxial contraction perpendicular to the substrate brought on by carbonization at 800 degrees C. This method could facilitate the mass- production and creation of new carbon and carbon - polymer porous films that find broad potential applications in catalysis, separation, hydrogen storage, bioengineering, nanodevices, and nanotemplates.