In order to overcome these challenges, our research group has focussed on the development of a series of novel nanoporous carbon scaffolds (NCS membranes), possessing a fully ordered and monodisperse porous structure. The NCS materials have pore diameters in the range of 5 to 100’s of nm and contain a fully inter-connected nano/macro-porous network (porosity ~80%). These NCS membranes, which can be made to be 0.5 - 100’s of microns in thickness, also have a very good conductivity of 2-10 S/cm and are fully electrochemically accessible in aqueous solutions, exhibiting a capacitance of 40-100 F/g. The fabrication method used to form these novel NCS membranes is also environmentally friendly and has been demonstrated to be applicable for manufacturing at large scale.
Due to these exceptional properties, the NCS materials are of great interest for use in a wide range of clean energy and water remediation products. In this presentation, the preparation and properties of these materials will be discussed, including the successful loading of the NCS membranes with catalytic metal nanoparticles and internal surface functionalization. An overview of the application of the NCS material in PEM fuel cells, redox flow batteries, capacitors, and in nanofiltration applications will also be presented.