The surface structure and chemical characters of activated carbon fibers modified by plasma

Abstract

Viscose-based activated carbon fibers (VACFs) were treated by a direct-current (DC) discharge plasma at different conditions. The surface functional groups of VACFs were modified to improve the adsorption and catalysis capacity for SO 2 and NO x . The surface properties of the untreated and treated VACFs which were modified in different feed gases (air, O 2 , N 2 and NH 3 ) were performed by scanning electron microscopy, BET, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflection spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR). The results show that after being treated with plasma, more particles appeared on the external surface of the VACFs and the surface became rougher, the average pore size decreased but the pore volume and the surface area decreased first and then increased. XPS revealed that DC discharge plasma can remarkably change the distribution of functional groups on the surface of VACFs. FTIR-ATR also indicated that more nitrogen atoms were introduced to the VACFs surface when the feed gas contained nitrogen atoms and N and O atoms were introduced to the surface of VACFs at the same time when the feed gas was air, but it did not happen in the feed gas of N 2 , or O 2 , or NH 3 . Discharge voltage and treatment time were important factors and for our experiment in the feed gas of nitrogen, the optimum modification conditions were 8 kV and 5 min, respectively. 

Advance in Using Plasma Technology for Modification or Fabrication of Carbon‐Based Materials and Their Applications in Environmental, Material, and Energy Fields

“…These active species can modify the carbon surface by introducing oxygen‐containing groups, especially through the creation of carboxyl groups (COOH). [ 22 ] The mechanisms of functional group generation on the surface of CBMs have been elucidated by previous studies (Figure 1b). [ 13,23 ] A plausible mechanism can be summarized as follows.…”

Combination of Nitrogen Plasma Modification and Waterborne Polyurethane Treatment of Carbon Fiber Paper Used for Electric Heating of Wood Floors

“…However, the poor dispersion of CF in pulp, interfacial properties between CF and pulp, and the mechanical properties of the resulting paper have been major issues with the use of carbon fiber-based paper, such that it is necessary to modify the CF. The previous studies have shown that acid oxidation, coupling agents, polymer resin coating, -ray irradiation, and plasma treatment can improve the CF surface (Zhou et al 2012;Encinas et al 2014). Acid oxidation (HNO3, H2SO4, etc.)…”

Advanced technologies for coal and biomass utilization

“…This special theme can be divided into four research groups, which are described as follows: The first group of papers covers a wide spectrum of coal science and technology, including the gasification reactivity of coal‐char, characterization of coal surface functional group, NOx emission control from coal‐fired power stations by methane reburn, ignition characteristics of coal during oxy‐fuel combustion, and techno‐economic analysis of coal‐fired power plant with post‐combustion CO 2 capture equipments. The second group provides insights into key issues associated with biomass utilization, such as combustion mechanisms of biomass, development of biosorbents for waste water treatment, biodiesel production and the emission of heavy metals during waste incineration. The third group focuses on the solid mixing mechanisms in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor. The fourth group investigates the characterization of activated carbon fiber modified by plasma.…”