Post-adsorption Method: A Simple and Effective Approach for Heteroatom Doping in Carbon Materials

The post-adsorption method offers a straightforward and efficient approach to heteroatom doping in carbon materials. It involves a two-step process: first, carbon materials (e.g., carbon black, graphene, MOF-derived carbon, self-made mesoporous carbon) are mixed with a precursor solution containing impurities. These impurities are then introduced into the carbon material through adsorption-thermal decomposition. The key advantage of post-adsorption over direct mixed pyrolysis lies in the separation of carbon material preparation and doping steps. In direct mixed pyrolysis, both heteroatom precursor and carbon precursor are combined, generating doped carbon in a single step. Conversely, the post-adsorption method involves a second pyrolysis on the pre-shaped carbon structure. This separation allows for a simplified doping process, making it more controllable and adaptable to various applications. From a scientific journal editor's perspective, the post-adsorption method stands out for its simplicity, effectiveness, and potential for advancing the field of carbon material design and synthesis.