Soft-template synthesis of 3D porous graphene foams with tunable architectures for lithium-O2 batteries and oil adsorption applications

We report a general emulsion soft-template method to synthesize porous graphene foams for multi-functional applications, including lithium-oxygen batteries and oil-adsorption. Multiple micro-emulsions and micelles were employed to produce three-dimensional porous graphene with well-tailored inter-architecture for the first time. Detailed mechanism study reveals that specific interfacial interactions, such as π-π interaction, hydrophobic affinity or electrostatic interaction, are vital for the formation of porous graphene materials. When applied as cathode materials in lithium-oxygen batteries, the porous graphene foams exhibited good catalytic activity. Besides, the porous graphene materials also demonstrated the capability for oil adsorption with a high efficiency.