Porous graphitic carbons prepared by combining chemical activation with catalytic graphitization

[Display omitted] ► A new pathway to prepare porous graphitic carbons is proposed by combining chemical activation (ZnCl 2) with catalytic graphitization (metal Fe and Ni). ► The surface area and the ratio of S mes /S BET of porous graphitic carbons might be adjusted. Porous graphitic carbons were prepared by combining chemical activation (ZnCl 2) with catalytic graphitization (metal Fe and Ni). The activating agent ZnCl 2 increased the surface area of porous carbon, and the catalyst (Fe, Ni) accelerated the graphitization. With increasing heat treatment temperature (600–900 °C), metal Fe and Ni promoted the degree of graphitization which was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The surface area of samples prepared using Fe and Ni catalysts varied from 275 to 787 m 2 g −1 and from 83 to 121 m 2 g −1, respectively.