Efficient process for etching highly graphitic carbons

Abstract

A process for increasing the porosity of graphitic carbon black includes combining graphitic carbon black having a planar Raman size (La) of at least 20 Angstroms with at least 100 ppm of an alkaline earth element chosen from strontium, barium and a mixture of the two to form a mixture, and contacting the mixture with an etching agent at a temperature of 900-1400 °C until 2%-85% of the mass of the carbon black is lost.