Improved Physico-chemical Properties of Mesoporous Carbon by Functionalization with Aminopropyl-polydimethylsiloxane (AP-PDMS)

The present research reports on the synthesis and properties of mesoporous carbon (MC) surface with functionalized aminopropyl-polydimethylsiloxane (AP-PDMS). The aim of MC surface modification was focused on the improvement of its electrical properties (EC electric conductivity), as well as its sorption capacity for cesium ions. In order to anchor AP-PDMS molecules, an intermediate functionalization step of the MC surface with carboxylic groups was carried out. In this respect, two different methods, namely: (i) sonication in the presence of the hydrogen peroxide (MC-COOH) and (ii) gas-plasma activation (MCA) have been considered for carbon surface oxidation. Further, AP-PDMS component was crosslinked to the COOH-reached carbon surface. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDX) were used to confirm the presence of AP-PDMS molecules on MC surface. Morphological and textural properties of the obtained composites have been investigated by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements, as well as their electrical properties (EC). The obtained results reveal the grafting of silane-containing component onto MC surface, an improved electrical conductivity of the synthesized composites toward MC sample. Also, the functionalization proved to be efficient in the sorption process of the cesium ions from aqueous solutions, despite the fact that the materials surface became hydrophobic.