# Synthesis of Single-crystal-like Nanoporous Carbon Membranes and Their Applications in Overall Water Splitting

## TL;DR

This paper presents a straightforward method to synthesize large, freestanding nanoporous carbon membranes with single-crystal-like graphitic order, which serve as effective electrocatalysts for water splitting when loaded with cobalt nanoparticles.

## Contribution

A novel bottom-up synthesis approach for large, freestanding nanoporous carbon membranes with unique structural and compositional features.

## Key findings

- Membranes exhibit single-crystal-like graphitic order.
- Loaded membranes show high electrocatalytic activity for water splitting.
- Hierarchical pore architecture enhances performance.

## Abstract

Nanoporous graphitic carbon membranes with defined chemical composition and pore architecture are novel nanomaterials that are actively pursued. Compared to easy-to-make porous carbon powders that dominate the porous carbon research and applications in energy generation/conversion and environmental remediation, porous carbon membranes are synthetically more challenging though rather appealing from an application perspective due to their structural integrity, interconnectivity and purity. Here we report a simple bottom-up approach to fabricate large-size, freestanding, porous carbon membranes that feature an unusual single-crystal-like graphitic order and hierarchical pore architecture plus favorable nitrogen doping. When loaded with cobalt nanoparticles, such carbon membranes serve as high-performance carbon-based non-noble metal electrocatalyst for overall water splitting.

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/1701.05813