Fabrication of highly ultramicroporous carbon nanofoams by SF6-catalyzed laser-induced chemical vapor deposition

Highlights: • The aggregates of nanoscale foams (nanofoams) can be produced at high rates by laser-induced chemical vapor deposition (LCVD). • The nanofoams were grown by LCVD from acetylene with the aid of SF₆. • Pyrolysis of the as-grown nanofoams induced microporosity and significantly enhanced the adsorption of supercritical H₂. We have developed a laser-induced chemical vapor deposition (LCVD) method for preparing nanocarbons with the aid of SF₆. This method would offer advantages for the production of aggregates of nanoscale foams (nanofoams) at high rates. Pyrolysis of the as-grown nanofoams induced the high surface area (1120 m² g⁻¹) and significantly enhanced the adsorption of supercritical H₂ (16.6 mg g⁻¹ at 77 K and 0.1 MPa). We also showed that the pyrolized nanofoams have highly ultramicroporous structures. The pyrolized nanofoams would be superior to highly microporous nanocarbons for the adsorption of supercritical gases.