The effect of thermal modification of turbostratic carbon on its fractal structure

Abstract

Fractal structure of porous carbon materials (PCMs) obtained by thermal modification under different regimes was investigated using the method of low-temperature porometry. It was established that at modification temperatures of 300 and 600°C, materials with a developed microporous structure are formed, the surface fractal dimension of which is 2.6. At modification temperatures of 400 and 500°C, the value of the fractal dimension of the surface decreases to a value of 2.22, which indicates the formation of an almost smooth surface due to the intensive removal of carbon atoms from the near-surface layers of the material particles, a decrease in the number of micropores with their transition into mesopores, unification of small carbon clusters into larger ones and the formation of microparticles of non-porous carbon material.

Keywords

• porous carbon material
• thermal modification
• low-temperature porometry
• specific surface area
• surface fractal dimension