Computer simulations of the structure of nanoporous carbons and higher density phases of carbon

Abstract

The most stable form of solid carbon is graphite, a stacking of graphene 2 layers in which the carbon atoms show sp2 hybridization which leads to strong intra3 layer bonding. Diamond is a denser phase, obtained at high pressure. In diamond the 4 carbon atoms show sp3 hybridization. Metastable solid carbon phases can be pre5 pared also with lower density than graphite (in fact, densities lower than water); for 6 instance the carbide-derived carbons. These are porous materials with a quite disor7 dered structure. Atomistic computer simulations of carbide-derived carbons indicate 8 that the pore walls can be viewed as curved and planar nanographene ribbons with 9 numerous defects and open edges. Consequently, the hybridization of the carbon 10 atoms in the porous carbons is sp2. Because of the high porosity and large specific 11 surface area, nanoporous carbons find applications in gas adsorption, batteries and 12 nanocatalysis, among others. We have performed computer simulations, employing 13 large simulation cells and long simulation times, to reveal the details of the structure 14 of the nanoporous carbons. In the dynamical simulations the interactions between 15 the atoms are represented by empirical many-body potentials. We have also investi16 gated the effect of the density on the structure of the disordered carbons and on the 17 hybridization of the carbon atoms. At low densities, typical of the porous carbide18 derived carbons formed experimentally, the hybridization is sp2. On the other hand, 19 as the density of the disordered material increases, a growing fraction of atoms with 20 sp3 hybridization appears