We report the catalyst-aided carbonization of sucrose to produce functionalized layered carbon materials exhibiting excellent proton conductivity. Structural control during synthesis and post-synthetic functionalization introduces abundant oxygenated groups, enhancing proton transport. The resulting materials demonstrate high conductivity under humid conditions, offering potential for energy storage and electrochemical applications.

Abstract

Sucrose-derived layered carbon materials hold promise for energy storage applications, but their synthesis is challenging due to sucrose's molecular structure and pyrolysis behavior. This work demonstrates the successful synthesis of layered carbon from sucrose using FeCl₃ as a catalyst. The resulting layered carbon was then functionalized via Hummer's oxidation and Fenton reaction methods to enhance proton conductivity. Characterization by SEM, FTIR, and XPS confirmed the layered structure and the presence of oxygenated functional groups after oxidation. Electrochemical measurements revealed significantly improved proton conductivity, with the Fenton-modified layered carbon exhibiting the highest conductivity of 3.27 × 10^{− 3} S cm⁻¹ in the in-plane direction at 90% relative humidity and 55 °C. These results suggest the potential of this sucrose-derived, functionalized layered carbon material for use in advanced energy storage technologies.