High-temperature treatment effect of microporous carbon on ordered structure of confined SO2

The X-ray diffraction (XRD) of SO2 molecules adsorbed in micropores of activated carbon fiber (ACF) was measured at 303 K. Effect of pore width and high-temperature treatment (HTT) of ACF on the XRD of SO2 in micropores were examined. The HTT gave rise to a more dipole-oriented structure of SO2 molecules in micropores of 1.1 nm width, whereas the opposite effect was observed in micropores of 0.7 nm. The intensified image potential of an SO2 molecule for the heat-treated graphitic pore wall should stabilize the dipole-oriented structure in the case of 1.1 nm micropores, while the heat-treatment provides defective structures in the narrow micropore system. The presence of O2 stabilized the dipole-oriented structure of SO2 molecules in the micropore.