CARBYNOID SPECIES IN ELECTROCHEMICAL POLYMERIC CARBON

The composite 'electrochemical carbon-alkali metal fluoride' was prepared by electrochemical reductive carbonization of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) or poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropene) with alkali metal amalgams. Infrared and UV-Vis spectroscopy of electrochemical carbon in this composite indicates the presence of carbynoid structures. Doping with I2, Br2 and O2 was followed by the measurement of electronic resistivity. Carbynoid structures in a freshly prepared composite material convert slowly to graphene-like structures by spontaneous solid-state crosslinking, the rate of which is controlled by the type of alkali metal fluoride in the composite. The stability against crosslinking increases in the series as Li < Na < K. Fast decomposition of caxbyne occurs in the presence of moist air, dry oxygen and halogens.