STRUCTURAL STUDIES OF CARBON PREPARED BY ELECTROCHEMICAL REDUCTION OF POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE

The methods of electron microscopy and X-ray scattering were used in the investigation of the structure of carbon JADO, prepared by the electrochemical reduction of polytetrafluoroethylene, and of the intermediate system C-LiF. The carbon JADO was found to be nongraphitc with a typical nodular morphology. The structure parameters as assessed by both methods were in good agreement and suggested that the carbon ordering in polytetrafluoroethylene did not change substantially during the reduction. The obtained results explained also the abnormally high specific surface area of the carbon. The electrochemical reaction allowed to decompose a bulk polymer into lamellae and to make visible its nodular morphology. © 1979.