Activated carbon and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed is an activated carbon including pores formed on a surface thereof, in particular, the pores include ultra-micropores having a diameter that is equal to or less than about 1.0 nm.
1. A method of manufacturing an activated carbon, the method comprising:
preparing a carbon precursor;
carbonizing the carbon precursor by heat treating thereon;
equalizing the carbon precursor carbonized by grinding them; and
activating the equalized carbon precursor by adding an oxidizing agent and distilled water into the equalized carbon precursor and heat treating thereon, to form the activated carbon,
wherein a volume of the oxidizing agent is in a range of about 10 volume % to 50 volume % for a total of 100 volume % of the oxidizing agent and the distilled water, in the activating,
wherein the oxidizing agent includes H 2 O 2 , and wherein the activating is performed at a temperature in a range of about 700° C. to 1000° C.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activating is performed while injecting a mixture of the oxidizing agent and the distilled water into the carbon precursor at a speed of about 1 ml/h to 100 ml/h.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the activating is performed under a pressure that is in a range of 0 bar to about 5 bar.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activating is performed for a time that is in a range of about 1 h to 5 h.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising
reducing a surface of the activated carbon by heat treating thereon under an atmosphere including hydrogen (H 2 ).
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the reducing is performed under a mixing environment in which an inert gas and hydrogen (H 2 ) gas are mixed, and
a volume of the hydrogen (H 2 ) gas is in a range of greater than 0 volume % to about 10 volume % for a total of 100 volume % of the inert gas and hydrogen (H 2 ) gas.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the reducing is performed at a temperature in a range of about 700° C. to 1000° C.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the reducing is performed for about 5 h to 10 h.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising
selecting the equalized carbon precursor by using a sieve having a size in a range of about 100 um to 250 um, after the equalizing.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the equalizing is performed by using a ball mill, and
a particle size of a ball used for the ball mill is in a range of about 1 mm to 20 mm.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein a volume of the carbon precursor is in a range of about 0.1 volume % to 40 volume % for a total of 100 volume % of the carbon precursor and the ball mill, in the equalizing.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein a processing speed for the ball mill is in a range of about 100 rpm to 500 rpm, in the equalizing.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein a processing time for the ball mill is in a range of 30 minutes to 5 hours, in the equalizing.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbonizing is performed at a temperature that is in a range of about 700° C. to 1000° C.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbon precursor includes starch, coconut husks, citrus peel, coffee grounds, bamboo stems, or a combination thereof.