LAUSR

Abstract Two porous aromatic polymers incorporated with carbonyl-functionality (CBAP-1 and CBAP-2) were synthesized via a Friedel-Crafts benzoylation reaction between 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene/biphenyl and terephthaloyl chloride/1,3,5-benzenetricarbonyl trichloride in the presence of anhydrous AlCl3 as catalyst, and post-synthetically functionalized with ethylenediamine to obtain CBAP-1(EDA) and CBAP-2(EDA). The microporous carbon materials with BET surface areas up to 1063 m2 g−1 were also prepared by carbonization of CBAP-1 and CBAP-1(EDA). After characterization using various analytical methods, these materials were tested as adsorbents for CO2 and CH4 capture at ambient conditions. High CO2/N2 (97.2 and 87.8) and CO2/CH4 (24.3 and 22.3) selectivities were observed for CBAP-1(EDA) and CBAP-2(EDA), respectively, at 273 K/1 bar, whereas the carbonized microporous materials exhibited high adsorption capacities for CO2 (216.0–231.6 mg g−1) and CH4 (36.6–38.1 mg g−1). This work demonstrates that post-synthesis functionalization of a porous aromatic polymer prepared by the simple Friedel-Crafts reaction can be an effective means to produce a family of host materials for effective gas adsorption.