ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to introduce activated carbon nanogels, including their preparation and characterization, their chemical and physical activation methods, and the application of activated carbon nanogels. Carbon aerogels (CAs), carbon xerogels, and carbon cryogels are three kinds of carbon nanogels, mainly depending on the drying method of organic gels. Adsorption tests indicated that the CAs were effective for both basic and acid dye adsorption and the adsorption increased by increasing surface area and pore volume. CAs are typically synthesized via three sequential steps: polymerization of molecular precursors into an organic gel, i.e., gel synthesis; supercritical drying of the organic gels, where the solvent is eliminated; and carbonization of the organic gels at an elevated temperature to produce the final CAs. The amount of chemical activation agent and the activation temperature greatly affect the textural properties of the carbon nanogels.
