Synthesis of ZnO coated activated carbon aerogel by simple sol–gel route

Abstract

We demonstrated the synthesis of high surface area ZnO–ACA composites with well-crystallized ZnO nanoparticles by simple sol–gel process. The coverage of ZnO nanoparticles on the carbon framework of ACA is very uniform, with no exposed carbon framework. Thermal removal of carbon produces ZnO replica structure mimicking the original ACA framework.