Spectroscopic characterization of black N- and P-doped zeolite templated carbons

The incorporation of heteroatoms (X) into the zeolite-templated carbon (ZTC) structure is a widely used technique to tailor its properties for specific applications such as gas adsorption, methane and hydrogen storage, and catalysis. However, the literature lacks sufficient data on Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of ZTCs due to the challenge in obtaining high-quality FTIR spectra required for accurate assignment of the C–X bands, primarily caused by the black mass effect. In this work we prepared nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) doped ZTC samples using FAU type zeolite as a template and furfuryl alcohol as a carbon precursor. The Raman results confirmed the presence of medium-sized aromatic structures and also showed that doping these structures with N and P leads to some defects, although the overall conformation remains structurally intact. The FTIR spectra of the ZTC materials were obtained by controlling the preparation procedure and humidity, enabling clear analysis of the black samples. A Density Functional Theory (DFT) model based on the dimeric buckybowl structure was developed and complemented by experimental results obtained from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and FTIR. The proposed DFT model was then used for deconvolution and precise band assignment of the experimental FTIR spectra. The FTIR deconvolution study also supported the incorporation of N and P into the ZTC as well as the presence of primarily two types of nitrogen species, amide (primary and secondary) and pyridine-like, while P was mainly incorporated as triphenylphosphine oxide and phosphonic acid. [Display omitted] •Phosphorous and nitrogen containing ZTC synthesized using FAU zeolite as a template and furfuryl alcohol as a carbon source.•High-quality FTIR spectra obtained despite the black mass effect allowing a fundamental understanding of the ZTC material.•XPS, NMR, FTIR and Raman Spectroscopy confirmed the N and P doping of the ZTC materials.•A dimeric buckybowl modeled with DFT gives valuable insights into the structural features ZTC materials.