Facile Preparation and Characterization of Carbon Fibers with Core-Shell Structure from Graphene-Dispersed Isotropic Pitch Compounds.

Dong Lee,Yong-Hwan Choi,Kyong Rhee,Byung-Joo Kim,Kap Yang

doi:10.3390/nano9040521

Abstract

In this study, isotropic pitch-based carbon fibers were prepared from a mixture of petroleum residue and graphene nanoplatelets with different contents. The softening point and synthetic yield of synthesized isotropic pitches were analyzed and compared to characterize the nature of the pitches. The surface and thermal characteristics of the fibers were observed using scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. From the results, it was observed that the prepared carbon fibers had an interesting core-shell structure. In the TGA analysis with air, the carbon fiber having 0.1 wt.% of graphene showed a higher residue yield than that of the sample having 1.0 wt.% of graphene. This result can be explained due to the graphene being placed on the surface region of the carbon fibers and directly helping to increase the surface area of the carbon fibers, resulting in rapid oxidation due to the enhanced contact area with oxygen.

Highlights

Carbon fiber (CF) can be prepared from various precursors, such as gases, polymers (cellulose, polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyvinylchloride, and phenol resin [4]), and pitches
The present works focus on the properties of graphene/polymer composite fibers or electrical properties of graphene/pitch based porous materials; there has been no report on surface morphology change of graphene-dispersed isotropic pitch-based fiber
In this study, using various thermal treatments, isotropic pitches/graphene precursors were prepared from compounds of petroleum residue and graphene-dispersed solution

Summary

Introduction

Carbon fiber (CF) can be prepared from various precursors, such as gases (benzene [1], ethane [2], and methane [3]), polymers (cellulose (rayon), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyvinylchloride, and phenol resin [4]), and pitches (isotropic and mesophase pitch). From the point of view of mechanical applications, Ji et al [17] have reviewed graphene/polymer composite fibers These composite fibers usually exhibit enhanced mechanical, thermal, conductive, and antibacterial properties. In the aspect of energy storage applications, He et al [18] have made microporous carbon/graphene composites using coal tar pitch and graphene oxide via KOH activation. These composites exhibit a high specific capacitance, good rate performance, and excellent cycle stability due to the good electrical properties that result from the addition of the proper content of graphene. The morphology change and surface properties of the CFs with addition of graphene were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD); the thermal and electrical properties were characterized

Materials

Carbon Fiber Preparation

Conclusions