Supercritical fluid growth of porous carbon nanocages

Carbon nanocages, with remarkably large mesoporous volumes, have been synthesized by the deposition of p-xylene over a Co/Mo catalyst in supercritical carbon dioxide. Nanocages with diameters ranging between 10 and 60 nm were synthesized at temperatures between 650 and 750 degrees C. The surface area and pore volume of the nanocages produced was found to depend on the reaction temperature and pressure employed. In particular, carbon nanocages with a pore volume of up to 5.8 cm(3) g(-1) and a BET surface area of 1240 m(2) g(-1) were readily synthesized at a temperature of 650 degrees C and a pressure of 10.34 MPa. The high pore volume and surface area of the carbon nanocages synthesized makes them ideal materials for use as inert adsorbents and catalytic supports.