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Abstract

The targeted thermal condensation of porous and oxidation resistant ('noble') carbons starting from a hexaazatriphenylene precursor is reported. Simple condensation of the pre?aligned molecular precursor leads to nitrogen?rich carbons with C2N?type stoichiometry. Despite the absence of any porogen and metal species involved in the syntthesis, specific surface areas reach of the molecular carbons up to 1000 m2 g?1 due to the significant microporosity of the materials. The content and type of nitrogen species is controllable by the carbonization temperature whilst porosity remains largely unaffected at the same time. The resulting noble carbons stand out by a highly polarizable micropore structure and have thus high adsorption affinity towards molecules such as H2O and CO2. This molecular precursor approach opens new possibilities for the synthesis of porous noble carbons under molecular control accessing the special physical properties of the C2N structure, extending the known spectrum of classical porous carbons.