Ana Arenillas

By Yolanda Fernandez, Ana Arenillas and J. Angel Menendez

Part of the book: Advances in Induction and Microwave Heating of Mineral and Organic Materials

By Esther G. Calvo, J. Ángel Menéndez and Ana Arenillas

Part of the book: Nanomaterials

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

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.

Part of the book: Porosity