Bioderived ionic liquids and salts with various cyano anions as precursors for doped carbon materials

Abstract

Carbohydrate moieties were combined with various cross‐linkable anions (thiocyanate [SCN], tetracyanoborate [TCB], tricyanomethanide [TCM], and dicyanamide [DCA]) and investigated as precursors for the synthesis of nitrogen‐doped and nitrogen‐/sulfur‐co‐doped carbons. The influence of the molecular structures of the precursors on their thermophysical properties and the properties of the derived carbon materials was elucidated and compared to petroleum‐derived analogs. A carbohydrate‐based ionic liquid featuring an [SCN] anion yielded more carbon residues upon carbonization than its 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium analog, and the resulting dual‐doping of the derived carbon material translated to enhanced catalytic activity in the oxygen reduction reaction.