Effects of the activation temperature on the polyacrylonitrile / acrylamide-based activated carbon fibers

Abstract

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/acrylamide (AM) precursor fibers prepared using a solvent-free coagulation process were stabilized, carbonized, and physically activated by carbon dioxide (CO2) into activated carbon fibers (ACFs). The activation temperature varied from 800 to 900 °C while the activation time was 60 minutes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs show that the porosity increased after the activation process, resulting from the loss of volatile components. The specific surface area increased markedly after the activation process; it was several hundred times greater than before the process. It was concluded that there is a big potential for PAN/AM-based ACFs prepared using solvent-free coagulation bath as an adsorbent of natural gas.