Crystallite size of the graphitic phase in soot ink based on historic recipe: A potential dating tool for old manuscripts

Abstract

In this paper, we report the crystallite size of the graphitic phase observed in a soot ink sample prepared based on an original Ottoman recipe in the 18th century for the first time. Intensity ratio of the D and G bands that were observed at 1384 and 1609 cm-1 respectively, revealed that the crystallite size is 24.33 nm. This corresponds to a carbon phase between graphitic and well graphitic stage. We strongly believe that this could be further used particularly for dating purposes by investigating carbon-black pigments which we have not encountered its consideration in the literature for mainly manuscripts. Here, we especially propose using the Tuinstra-Koenig relationship together with the consideration of D and G band profiles to derive the crystallite size of the graphitic phase observed in soot ink and other various carbon-black inks for the purpose of manuscript dating.