Catalytic graphitization of polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fibers coated with Prussian blue

Prussian blue(PB) was used as catalyst to improve the extent of graphitization of polyacrylonitrile(PAN)-based carbon fibers.PB was deposited on carbon fibers by anodic electrodeposition and the thickness of PB coating(PB content) was controlled by adjusting the electrodeposition time.PAN-based carbon fibers with PB coating were heat-treated and the extent of graphitization was measured by X-ray diffractometry and Raman spectroscopy.The results indicate that the extent of graphitization of PAN-based carbon fibers is enhanced in the presence of the coating.When the PB-coated carbon fibers were heat-treated at 1 900 ℃,interlayer spacing(d002) and crystallite size(Lc) reach 0.336 8 and 21.2 nm respectively.Contrarily,the values of d002 and Lc are 0.341 4 and 7.4 nm respectively when the bare carbon fibers were heat-treated at 2 800 ℃.Compared with the bare carbon fibers,PB can make the heat treatment temperature(HTT) drop more than 500 ℃ in order to reach the same extent of graphitization.Furthermore,the research results show that PB content also has a certain influence on the extent of graphitization at the same HTT.