Route to high surface area TiO2/C and TiCN/C composites

Abstract

In this study, the synthesis and characterization of high surface area carbon-supported titania and titanium carbonitride aerogels is presented. An activated carbon aerogel with surface area greater than 2000 m² g⁻¹ was used as a support for the sol–gel deposition of titania. The resulting titania-coated carbon aerogel retained a surface area greater than 2000 m² g⁻¹ even after conversion to the anatase crystalline phase. The carbon-supported titanium carbonitride aerogel was made by the carbothermal reduction of the titania-coated carbon aerogel under flowing nitrogen at 1400 °C. The resulting monolith consisted of nitrogen-rich titanium carbonitride (TiC_1−xN_x, x = 0.90) nanocrystals and exhibited a surface area of 1838 m² g⁻¹.