Pore structures of activated carbon fibers from organometallics/pitch composites by nitrogen adsorption Original Research Article

A series of activated carbon fibers (ACFs) produced from organometallics compounds such as Y(acac)3 or Al(acac)3/pitch composites were characterized. The pore-size, surface state and graphitic crystallite size were examined by means of N2 adsorption isotherm, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The presence of Y or Al increased the pore-size. Y(acac)3/pitch and Al(acac)3/pitch-based ACFs activated at 1148 and 1173 K, respectively, had an appreciable amount of mesopores. The size of the micrographites structure of the organometallics/pitch-based ACF composites by XRD was slightly greater than that of the pitch-based ACF. Ar ion etching using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that Y or Al atoms are coated with carbon layers.