Polymer Derived Carbon and Carbides

1. Block Copolymer-based Porous Carbon Fibers

Carbon fiber is an important low-density material that has outstanding mechanical strength, electric conductivity, fire resistance, high chemical resistance, high operational temperature tolerance, low coefficient of thermal expansion, and excellent electromagnetic interference shielding properties. Functional porous carbon fibers that span the pore size across micro-, meso-, and macro- length scales are crucial for a wide range of applications including catalysis, energy conversion and storage, water purification and desalination, and advanced composites. 

We specialize in the synthesis and processing of polyacrylonitrile-containing block copolymers into porous carbon fibers with well-defined mesoporous structures, as well as the integration of porous carbon fibers with polymers and inorganic materials to create advanced composites. These porous carbon fibers have shown outstanding performance for energy storage, water desalination, catalysis, and many others.  We envision the porous carbon fibers to be the next-generation carbon fibers that serve both structural support and functional materials. Representative Publications: 

Science Advances, 2020, 6, eaaz0906. [DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz0906].  (Water Desalination)

Science Advances, 2019, 5(2), eaau6852. [DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aau6852.]. (Energy Storage)

Nature Communications, 2019, 10, 675. [DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08644-w.] (Energy Storage)

Patents: US Provisional 62/465,867