NEW CHARACTERIZATION TECHNIQUES FOR ACTIVATED CARBON-FIBERS

Recent work on activated carbon fibers with specific surface area SSA greater-than-or-equal-to 1000 m2/g is reviewed. Because of their heterogeneity, it is necessary to characterize activated carbon fibers by multiple characterization techniques, such as x-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, transport properties, magneto-resistance, photoconductivity, and electron spin resonance. Further insight into the structure-property relationships in activated carbon fibers is achieved through their study as a function of heat treatment temperature, using these same characterization techniques. Whereas transport-related properties are most sensitive to the specific surface area, the structure and Raman spectra are most sensitive to the state of graphitization.