The change of structural parameters of nanoporous activated carbons under the influence of ultrasonic radiation

Abstract

The influence of ultrasonic radiation in the cavitation regime on the structural properties of activated carbon was studied. It was established, as the result of the X-ray diffraction, small-angle X-ray scattering and nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis, that the ultrasound treatment causes substantial changes in the atomic and porous structure of the samples. Firstly, these changes appear in the changes of the intensity and the displacement of the line of graphite-like phase maximum in direction toward the (002) graphite line. Also, it was shown that the ultrasound treatment resulted in an increase of the graphitization degree of the carbon material and, thus, in an increase of its density. The decrease of interlayer distance d and an increase of sizes of graphite-like clusters were observed which indicates an increase of the atomic order degree. It was established that the increase in the degree of graphitizing, namely the consolidation of samples, produces the increase in the portion of mesopores in the sample, and, therefore, the decrease in the specific volume and surface area of the pores.