Cesium Ion‐Mediated Microporous Carbon for CO2 Capture and Lithium‐Ion Storage

Abstract Activated carbon has been used in a wide range of applications owing to its large specific area, facile synthesis, and low cost. The synthesis of activated carbon mostly relies on potassium hydroxide (KOH)‐mediated activation which leads to the formation of micropores (<2 nm) after a washing step with acid. Here we report the preparation of activated carbon with an anomalously large surface area (3288 m2 g−1), obtained by employing an activation process mediated by cesium (Cs) ions. The high affinity of the carbon lattice for Cs ions induces immense interlayer expansion upon complexation of the intercalant Cs ion with the carbon host. Furthermore, the Cs‐activation process maintains the nitrogen content of the carbon source by enabling the activation process at low temperature. The large surface area and well‐preserved nitrogen content of Cs‐activated carbon takes advantage of i…