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Effects of multi-step stabilization method on textural properties of polyolefin-based activated carbon fibers

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Abstract

In this study, we utilized a multi-step stabilization method, incorporating dry-oxidation, to produce high-density polyethylene (HDPE)-based activated carbon fibers. This stabilization was achieved through electron-beam irradiation, sulfonation, and dry oxidation. The stabilized fibers were carbonized and activated at 900 ℃. The crystallite characteristics of the activated carbon fibers were observed using X-ray diffraction, and their surface morphologies were analyzed through scanning electron microscopy. The textural properties were analyzed using N2/77 K adsorption–desorption isothermal curves. And leveraging the microdomain model, we explored the influence of these stabilization methods on the HDPE-based activated carbon fibers texture properties. The results show that HDPE fibers treated with sulfonation only at 100 ℃ for 60 min were not sufficiently cross-linked and were completely decomposed during the carbonization stage. However, the sulfonated fibers treated with the new dry-oxidation process maintained their shapes and were successfully activated. The specific surface area of the resulting activated carbon fibers was as much as 2000 m2/g.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Nano-Material Technology Development Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (NRF-2019M3A7B9071501).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Material Application Research Institute, Jeonju University, Jeonju, 55069, Republic of Korea

    Jeong-Rae Ahn & Byung-Joo Kim

  2. Department of Carbon Convergence and Composite Materials Engineering, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, 54896, Republic of Korea

    Jeong-Rae Ahn

  3. R&D Group 1, Korea Carbon Industry Promotion Agency, Jeonju, 54853, Republic of Korea

    Hye-Min Lee

  4. Department of Advanced Materials and Chemical Engineering, Jeonju University, Jeonju, 55069, Republic of Korea

    Byung-Joo Kim

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  1. Jeong-Rae Ahn
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Correspondence to Hye-Min Lee or Byung-Joo Kim.

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Ahn, JR., Lee, HM. & Kim, BJ. Effects of multi-step stabilization method on textural properties of polyolefin-based activated carbon fibers. Carbon Lett. 34, 715–721 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42823-023-00614-z

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