Carbon Nanofoam

Marketech International Inc.
107B Louisa Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Tel: 360-379-6707
Toll Free: 877-452-4910
Fax: 360-379-6907
[email protected]

	Electrically conductive carbon nanofoams are a new material with many of the properties of traditional aerogel material. These materials are available in the form of monoliths, granules, powders and papers. They are synthetic, lightweight foams in which the solid matrix and pore spaces have nanometer-scale dimensions. Prepared by sol-gel methods, nanofoams typically have low density, continuous porosity, high surface area, and fine cell/pore sizes. The foams are also electrically conductive and have a high capacitance.
Standard densities of carbon nanofoams range from 0.25 to 1.00 g/cm³. Carbon nanofoams precursors can be infiltrated into a carbon fiber mat that, when carbonized, will result in paper-like electrode material 0.007 to 0.050" thick. Morphology examination by scanning electron microscope shows an open cell structure and continuous porosity. The particle size and pore spacing is a function of density and the polymerization chemistry used during the sol-gel process. Low density carbon nanofoams (~0.25 g/cm³) have the largest cell/pore size with particle diameters of up to 100 nm and pores at least 500 nm. High density carbon foams (abt. 0.8 g/cm³) have ultra fine particles and pores of less than 1000Å.
Properties of Nanocellular Carbon Foam
Properties of Carbon Nanofoam		Available Ranges
Density		0.25 - 1.0 g/cm³
Surface Area, BET		400 m²/g*
Avearge Pore Size		0.7 nm*
Electrical Resistivity		0.010 - 0.040 ohm-cm
Capacitance		30 F/g*
Thermal Conductivity		0.089 W/m°K**
Gas Permeability		1.47 x 10^-10**
Color		Black
* at Density of 0.8 g/cm³ * at Density of 0.26 g/cm³ * Measured at room temperature in helium
Carbon Nanofoams Electrodes
Nanofoam carbon paper is an alternative to woven carbon cloth for electrodes and are superior to woven carbon fiber electrodes in many applications because of their high surface area, low resistance and high relative capacitance. The electrode material is flexible and can be pre-formed into almost any desired shape. They posses about 20% bulk porosity resulting in good flow characteristics, and have both nano and meso porosity. There is virtually no contact resistance within the carbon electrode.
	SEM photographs of this composite sheet shows platelets of carbon nanofoam firmly attached to random carbon fibers, interspersed with macro porosity. The macro porosity of the standard sheet is about 20% and the ratio nanofoam to carbon fiber is about 80% by weight. Click this link to see other magnifications of Carbon Nanofoam Paper
Standard sheets are 3.5 x 10" and 0.010" thick, with thicknesses of 0.005 to 0.050" available. Please click here for our order form.
Grade	Density	Surface Area	Average Pore Size	Capacitance	Resistivity
I	0.4-0.5 g/cc	~400 m²/gram	~60 nm	15 - 19 F/gram	0.010 - 0.040 ohm-cm
II	0.4-0.5 g/cc	~600 m²/gram	75-80 nm	28 - 30 F/gram	0.010 - 0.040 ohm-cm
Grade I and II electrodes have been tested in capacitive deionization cells and the electrodes are found to be completely suitable for a range of capacitive deionization (CDI) applications. The electrosorption capacity and rate of ion removal is faster than that observed with other materials.