Process for the preparation of a porous carbon material using an improved carbon source

Abstract

A process for preparing a porous carbon material. The process comprises the process steps: providing a carbon source; providing an amphiphilic species; contacting the carbon source and the amphiphilic species to obtain a precursor; and heating the precursor to obtain the porous carbon material; wherein the carbon source comprises a carbon source compound, wherein the carbon source compound comprises an aromatic ring having one or more attached OH groups and an ester link.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A process for preparing a porous carbon material comprising the process steps:
 providing a carbon source;   providing an amphiphilic species;   contacting the carbon source and the amphiphilic species to obtain a precursor; and   heating the precursor to obtain the porous carbon material;   wherein the carbon source comprises a carbon source compound, wherein the carbon source compound comprises the following:
 an aromatic ring having 1 or more attached OH groups; 
 an ester link. 
   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the aromatic ring i, is a 6 member ring. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the aromatic ring i, is a carbon ring. 
     
     
         4 . A porous carbon material having at least one of the following features:
 a total pore volume in a range from 0.4 to 2.8 cm 3 /g for pores having a diameter in a range from 10 nm to 10,000 nm;   a BET TOTAL  in a range from 10 to 1000 m 2 /g;   a conductivity greater than 2 S/cm;   a pore diameter distribution with a mode in a range from 50 to 280 nm;   a skeletal density in a range from 1.8 to 2.3 g/cm3; and   A d 50  for primary particle diameter in a range from 300 nm to 100 µm.   
     
     
         5 . The porous carbon material according to  claim 4  further comprising a feature selected from the group consisting of:
 BET MICRO  in a range from 0 to 650 m 2 /g; 
 a mean pore size above 40 nm; 
 a modal pore size above 40 nm; 
 a ratio of modal pore size to mean pore size in a range from 0.2 to 1.1; 
 a particle diameter d 90  below 7 µm; 
 less than 25 ppm impurities other than carbon; 
 an iron content less than 25 ppm; or 
 
 a combination of two or more of the above features. 
 
     
     
         6 . A device comprising the porous carbon material according to  claim 4 . 
     
     
         7 . A device comprising the porous carbon material according to  claim 5 . 
     
     
         8 . A process of using the porous carbon material according to  claim 4  for improving the properties of an electrical device, wherein the electrical device is selected from the group consisting of an electrochemical cell, a capacitor, an electrode, and a fuel cell. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 8  wherein an ion transport of the electrical device is improved. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 8  wherein the electrical device is a lithium ion battery having electrodes, and a power density of the lithium ion battery is improved by enhancing the ion diffusivity in the electrodes. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 8  wherein the electrical device is a lithium ion battery having an electrode with a thickness, and an energy density of the lithium ion battery is improved by increasing the electrode thickness. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 8  wherein the electrical device is a lithium ion battery having electrodes, and the process reduces a drying time of the electrodes. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 8  wherein the electrical device is a lithium ion battery having electrodes filled with electrolyte, and the process reduces an electrolyte filling time of the electrodes. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 8  wherein the electrical device is a lithium ion battery having electrodes filled with electrolyte, and the process improves a low-temperature conductivity of the electrolyte. 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 8  wherein the electrical device is a fuel cell, and the process improves a cycle life and/or a water transport in the fuel cell. 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 8  wherein the electrical device is an electrical capacitor having an electrode with a thickness, and an energy density of the electrical capacitor is improved by increasing the electrode thickness. 
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 8  wherein the electrical device is an electrical capacitor having electrodes, and a power density of the electrical capacitor is improved by enhancing the ion diffusivity in the electrodes. 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 8  wherein the electrical device is a lead acid battery, and the process improves a cycle life and/or a deep-discharge capacity in the lead acid battery. 
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 8  wherein the electrical device is a lead acid battery, and the process improves a dynamic charge acceptance in the lead acid battery. 
     
     
         20 . A process of using the porous carbon material according to  claim 5  for improving the properties of an electrical device, wherein the electrical device is selected from the group consisting of an electrochemical cell, a capacitor, an electrode, and a fuel cell.