**Carbon Xerogels: The Bespoke Nanoporous Carbons** Carbon Xerogels: The Bespoke Nanoporous Carbons

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.71255

María Canal-Rodríguez, J. Angel Menéndez and Ana Arenillas María Canal-Rodríguez, J. Angel Menéndez

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter and Ana Arenillas

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.71255 Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

#### Abstract

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adma.201301975

68 Porosity - Process, Technologies and Applications

c3cs60159e

DOI: 10.1021/cm402239e

This chapter focuses on the main features of resorcinol-formaldehyde–based carbon xerogels. The first part of the chapter discusses ways of synthesizing these materials and the different variables involved. Then a review of the ways in which the meso- and macroporosity of organic xerogels can be controlled by adjusting the synthesis conditions is undertaken. Special attention is paid to the pH and components of the precursor solution and how these variables are interrelated with each other. The formation of the microporosity during the carbonization or activation processes that give rise to the carbon xerogels is also briefly discussed. Besides the fact that the porosity of these materials can be tailored during the synthesis, another notable characteristic is that, compared with most porous carbons, they possess a relatively high electrical conductivity, which make them ideal materials for use as electrodes in energy storage devices. Their use in supercapacitors and in lithium ion batteries is addressed in the last part of the chapter.

Keywords: carbon xerogels, designed porosity, electrical conductivity, energy storage, supercapacitors
