Structural properties of carbon materials from the electrochemical reduction of fluorinated naphthalene pitch Original Research Article

Synthesis of carbon materials from fluorinated naphthalene pitch has been carried out by means of electrochemical reduction. Structural and morphological properties of synthesized carbons were investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS), Raman scattering spectrum, X-ray diffraction measurements and scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). Furthermore, a change in the structure of synthesized carbons with an electron beam irradiation was examined. The synthesized carbon has a disordered structure composed of fragments of the sp2 hexagonal network, and also has lots of micro-voids. A carbyne-like structure was found only a little with the reduction of fluorinated naphthalene pitch by Raman spectra. A lot of ribbon-like graphite nanocrystal was formed by irradiation of an electron beam at a high temperature to the defluorinated carbon. Bending of a long ribbon-like crystal of graphite was often observed. Formation mechanism of graphite nanocrystals was discussed.