Advanced Heteroatom-Doped Porous Carbon Membranes Assisted by Poly(ionic liquid) Design and Engineering

Conspectus Heteroatom-doped porous carbon membranes (HPCMMs) with a tailor-made pore architecture, chemical composition, atomic structural order, and surface state represent an exciting family of porous carbon materials for diverse potential applications in catalysis, water treatment, biofiltration, energy conversion/storage, and so forth. Conventional porous carbon membranes possess intrinsic structural integrity, interconnectivity, and chemical purity across the atomic-to-macro world and have been popularly incorporated into devices as separators or chemically inert conductive supports, circumventing otherwise the inevitable complicated processing and structure weakness of their fine powderous counterpart. Motivated by the distinguished heteroatom-doping effect that revolutionizes the chemical and physical nature of carbon materials, the HPCMM research surges very recently, and focuses not only on the eminent conductive supports or separators but also on electro(co)catalysts in energy devices. Synergy of the porous nature, incorporation of heteroatoms, and the membrane state creates a vivid profile pattern and new task-specific usage. It is also noteworthy that the inherent structural merits of HPCMMs plus a high electron conductivity imbue them as a reliable binder-free model electrode to derive the intrinsic structure–property relationship of porous carbons in electrochemical environments, excluding the complex and adverse factors in association with polymer binders in carbon powder-based electrodes. HPCMMs are of both intense academic interest and practical value because of their well-defined properties endowed by controllable structure and porosity at both atomic and macroscopic scales in a membrane form. The sole aim of this article is to bring this group of porous carbon materials to the forefront so their comprehensive properties and functions can be better understood to serve the carbon community to address pressing materials challenges in our society. In this Account, we highlight the latest discovery and proceedings of HPCMMs, particularly the advancements in how to tailor structures and properties of HPCMMs by rational structure design of porous polymer membranes as sacrificial template built up especially from heteroatom-rich poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs). We will also stress the carbonization craft and the state-of-the-art electrochemical applications for HPCMMs. Key factors and thoughts in heteroatom doping and porous systems in HPCMMs are discussed. A future perspective of the challenges and promising potential of HPCMMs is cast on the basis of these achievements.