Importance of small micropores in CO ₂ capture by phenolic resin-based activated carbon spheres

Phenolic resin-based carbon spheres obtained by a slightly modified Stöber method are shown to be superior CO2 adsorbents. A direct KOH activation of polymeric spheres gave carbons with small micropores (<0.8 nm) and large specific surface area (2400 m2 g−1), which are able to adsorb an unprecedented amount of CO2 (up to 8.9 mmol g−1) at 0 °C and ambient pressure.