@article{ART003389009},
author={Sheng Hongliang and He Tao and Li Ye and Cao Chengyang and He Song},
title={Microwave-DES activation of poplar-derived ultramicroporous carbon for efficient CO2/N2 separation with extremely high pore utilization rate},
journal={Carbon Letters},
issn={1976-4251},
year={2026},
volume={36},
number={3},
pages={1337-1354},
doi={10.1007/s42823-026-01066-x}
TY - JOUR
AU - Sheng Hongliang
AU - He Tao
AU - Li Ye
AU - Cao Chengyang
AU - He Song
TI - Microwave-DES activation of poplar-derived ultramicroporous carbon for efficient CO2/N2 separation with extremely high pore utilization rate
JO - Carbon Letters
PY - 2026
VL - 36
IS - 3
PB - Korean Carbon Society
SP - 1337
EP - 1354
SN - 1976-4251
AB - Poplar wood was employed as the precursor to develop a coupled “microwave self-gasification & aqueous post-modification” protocol that enables instantaneous activation within a microwave field, yielding activated carbon dominated by ultra-micropores (< 0.7 nm). Despite a modest BET surface area of ~ 900 m²/g, the material exhibits an exceptional CO₂ uptake of 180.4 mg/g at 0 °C and 1 bar—1.6-fold higher than at 25 °C—while N₂ uptake remains below 30 mg/g under the same conditions. On a pore-volume basis, the carbon stores 443.79 mg CO₂ per cm³ at 0 °C and 278.62 mg/cm³ at 25 °C. CO₂ adsorption proceeds via a multilayer mechanism with the isosteric heat (Qst) decreasing from 45 to 23 kJ mol⁻¹, whereas N₂ follows a monolayer pathway with Qst held between 20 and 24 kJ mol⁻¹. IAST calculations reveal that CO₂/N₂ selectivity rises from 70 to 90 with increasing pressure at 0 °C and levels off around 50 at 25 °C. Dynamic breakthrough experiments deliver a separation factor of 8.28 for a 15% CO₂/85% N₂ mixture. GCMC simulations further indicate that O–C = O-functionalized surfaces confer the highest CO₂ capacity, while C–S–C motifs are the least favorable in competitive adsorption.
KW - Activated carbon CO2 DES GCMC Poplar wood Water bath
DO - 10.1007/s42823-026-01066-x
ER -
Sheng Hongliang, He Tao, Li Ye, Cao Chengyang and He Song. (2026). Microwave-DES activation of poplar-derived ultramicroporous carbon for efficient CO2/N2 separation with extremely high pore utilization rate. Carbon Letters, 36(3), 1337-1354.
Sheng Hongliang, He Tao, Li Ye, Cao Chengyang and He Song. 2026, "Microwave-DES activation of poplar-derived ultramicroporous carbon for efficient CO2/N2 separation with extremely high pore utilization rate", Carbon Letters, vol.36, no.3 pp.1337-1354. Available from: doi:10.1007/s42823-026-01066-x
Sheng Hongliang, He Tao, Li Ye, Cao Chengyang, He Song "Microwave-DES activation of poplar-derived ultramicroporous carbon for efficient CO2/N2 separation with extremely high pore utilization rate" Carbon Letters 36.3 pp.1337-1354 (2026) : 1337.
Sheng Hongliang, He Tao, Li Ye, Cao Chengyang, He Song. Microwave-DES activation of poplar-derived ultramicroporous carbon for efficient CO2/N2 separation with extremely high pore utilization rate. 2026; 36(3), 1337-1354. Available from: doi:10.1007/s42823-026-01066-x
Sheng Hongliang, He Tao, Li Ye, Cao Chengyang and He Song. "Microwave-DES activation of poplar-derived ultramicroporous carbon for efficient CO2/N2 separation with extremely high pore utilization rate" Carbon Letters 36, no.3 (2026) : 1337-1354.doi: 10.1007/s42823-026-01066-x
Sheng Hongliang; He Tao; Li Ye; Cao Chengyang; He Song. Microwave-DES activation of poplar-derived ultramicroporous carbon for efficient CO2/N2 separation with extremely high pore utilization rate. Carbon Letters, 36(3), 1337-1354. doi: 10.1007/s42823-026-01066-x
Sheng Hongliang; He Tao; Li Ye; Cao Chengyang; He Song. Microwave-DES activation of poplar-derived ultramicroporous carbon for efficient CO2/N2 separation with extremely high pore utilization rate. Carbon Letters. 2026; 36(3) 1337-1354. doi: 10.1007/s42823-026-01066-x
Sheng Hongliang, He Tao, Li Ye, Cao Chengyang, He Song. Microwave-DES activation of poplar-derived ultramicroporous carbon for efficient CO2/N2 separation with extremely high pore utilization rate. 2026; 36(3), 1337-1354. Available from: doi:10.1007/s42823-026-01066-x
Sheng Hongliang, He Tao, Li Ye, Cao Chengyang and He Song. "Microwave-DES activation of poplar-derived ultramicroporous carbon for efficient CO2/N2 separation with extremely high pore utilization rate" Carbon Letters 36, no.3 (2026) : 1337-1354.doi: 10.1007/s42823-026-01066-x
