Abstract: Nanoporous and mesoporous carbon materials are fabricated in a pyrolysis process in which a starting mixture including a carbonizing polymer and a pyrolyzing polymer are employed. In one instance, the carbonizing polymer and pyrolyzing polymer are joined together in the form of a block copolymer. In another instance, the carbonizing polymer is a polyfurfuryl alcohol and the pyrolyzing polymer is polyethylene glycol diacid. These two polymer materials are mixed together and not copolymerized. The pore structure of the material may be controlled by controlling the molecular weight of various of the polymer components.

Abstract: A gas permeable, carbon based, nanocomposite membrane comprises a nanoporous carbon matrix comprising a pyrolyzed polymer, and a plurality of nanoparticles of carbon or an inorganic compound disposed in the matrix. The matrix is prepared by pyrolyzing a polymer, and nanoparticles of the particulate material are disposed in the polymer prior to pyrolysis. The particles may be disposed in a precursor of the polymer, which precursor is subsequently polymerized, or in the polymer itself.