Porous nanostructured polyimide networks and methods of manufacture

Abstract

Porous three-dimensional networks of polyimide and porous three-dimensional networks of carbon and methods of their manufacture are described. For example, polyimide aerogels are prepared by mixing a dianhydride and a diisocyanate in a solvent comprising a pyrrolidone and acetonitrile at room temperature to form a sol-gel material and supercritically drying the sol-gel material to form the polyimide aerogel. Porous three-dimensional polyimide networks, such as polyimide aerogels, may also exhibit a fibrous morphology. Having a porous three-dimensional polyimide network undergo an additional step of pyrolysis may result in the three dimensional network being converted to a purely carbon skeleton, yielding a porous three-dimensional carbon network. The carbon network, having been derived from a fibrous polyimide network, may also exhibit a fibrous morphology.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A polyimide aerogel comprising the following moiety: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         21 . A carbon aerogel derived from the polyimide aerogel of  claim 20 . 
     
     
         22 . The carbon aerogel of  claim 21 , wherein the carbon aerogel comprises microporosity originating from chemical etching. 
     
     
         23 . A polyimide aerogel comprising the following moiety: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         24 . A carbon aerogel derived from the polyimide aerogel of  claim 23 . 
     
     
         25 . The carbon aerogel of  claim 24 , wherein the carbon aerogel comprises microporosity originating from chemical etching. 
     
     
         26 . A polyimide aerogel comprising the following moiety: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R originates from a triisocyanate. 
       
     
     
         27 . A carbon aerogel derived from the polyimide aerogel of  claim 26 . 
     
     
         28 . The carbon aerogel of  claim 27 , wherein the carbon aerogel comprises microporosity originating from chemical etching.