Synthesis of new nanoporous carbon materials using nanostructured silica materials as templates

In this review, we summarize recent reports on the synthesis of various nanoporous carbon materials. Many nanoporous carbon materials having variable pore sizes and pore structures have been synthesized using appropriate nanostructured silica materials as templates. Nanoporous carbons with high pore volumes and uniform pore sizes have been produced using silica sol and silica gel as templates. Mesoporous carbons with several different pore structures have been synthesized using mesoporous silica materials such as MCM-48, HMS, SBA-15, MSU, and MCF as templates. Some of these nanoporous carbon materials were successfully used as adsorbents for bulky pollutants and electrodes for supercapacitors and fuel cells.