XPS study on the surface structure of carbon fibers using chemical modification and C1s line shape analysis

Abstract

The chemical modification technique coupled with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been proven to be a useful tool for the detailed and quantitative analysis of surface functional groups of carbon fibers. Major functional groups on unoxidized and oxidized carbon fiber surfaces are found to be carbonyl groups and hydroxyl and carbonyl groups, respectively. Line shape analysis of the XPS C1s spectrum is found to provide good parameters for evaluating the degree of graphitization on a carbon fiber surface. A narrower and a more asymmetric C1s spectrum is shown to correspond to a more complete graphite lattice structure. It is suggested that the surface of graphite fiber is disordered by surface oxidation.