Ordered macroporous graphenic carbon-based framework materials and their low-temperature co-sacrificial template synthesis mechanism

Ordered porous functional materials such as microporous metal -organic frameworks and mesoporous silica series have been widely explored from both science and engineering perspectives due to their unique physiochemical merits and broad potential applica-tions. However, there is still a lack of ordered macroporous mate-rials, particularly with high crystallinity that can effectively extend these ordering-based advantages to a larger scale. Through a facile co-sacrificial template sequential pyrolysis process using metal salts and colloidal crystals as precursors, here we have developed a three-dimensionally ordered macroporous framework material con-structed by well-crystallized graphenic carbon and uniformly dispersed metallic nanocrystals down to subnanometer size, de-noted as OMGCs. Through systematic experimental and theoretical verification by using various metal nitrate precursors, a unique atom-casting mechanism occurring on specific crystal surfaces of metallic salts is further revealed to explain its low-temperature for-mation mechanism at 290 degrees C-300 degrees C. These OMGCs may greatly expand the family of ordered porous framework materials for emerging applications.