Effects of surface treatment on the bulk chemistry and structure of vapor grown carbon fibers Original Research Article

Various surface treatments were performed previously to modify the surface condition of vapor grown carbon fibers (VGCF). However, by these surface treatments, in addition to the surface chemistry, the bulk chemistry and structure of the VGCF was influenced as well. Raman spectroscopy and nitrogen adsorption were used to study the changes in bulk chemistry and structure, and surface morphology, respectively, for surface treated VGCF. The bulk chemistry was compared with the surface chemistry obtained in an earlier study. In contrast to other types of carbon fibers, as-grown VGCF contain carbon atoms in an aliphatic environment in the bulk and have only a small pore volume. However, pores could be created in VGCF by surface oxidation. Furthermore, surface oxidation also decreased the order of the graphitic structures and the concentration of aliphatic structures in the bulk.