Carbon 124 (2017) 722e724
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Carbon
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/carbon
New Carbon Materials Abstracts 2017(2)
[New Carbon, Materials 2017, 32(2): 97-105]
RECENT DEVELOPMENT OF POLYSULFIDE BARRIERS FOR Li-S
BATTERIES
Zhao Xu 1, 2, Hui-hui You 1, 2, Lei Zhang 1, 2, Quan-hong Yang 1, 2. 1 School of
Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072,
China; 2 Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and
Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin 300072, China
Abstract: Li-S batteries have attracted great attention for their high
theoretical specific capacity (1 675 mAh g-1) and energy density (2 600 Wh
Kg-1). However, their low conductivity and poor utilization efficiency of
sulfur greatly restrict practical applications. Novel polysulfide barriers
have been designed and fabricated to overcome the shuttle effect and to
improve cycle stability. In this review, the recent development of poly-
sulfide barrier materials for Li-S batteries is introduced, which include
carbon materials, metal oxides and conducting polymers. The develop-
ment of an integrated electrode consisting of a polysulfide barrier and
separator could be a hot research topic for Li-S batteries.
[New Carbon Materials 2017, 32(2): 106-115]
RESEARCH PROGRESS ON ELECTRODE MATERIALS AND ELECTROLYTES
FOR SUPERCAPACITORS
Chen Jiao 1, 2, Wei-ke Zhang 1, Fang-yuan Su 2, Hong-yan Yang 1, 2, Rui-xiang
Liu 1, 2, Cheng-meng Chen 2. 1 College of Environmental Science and
Technology, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China; 2 Key
Laboratory of Carbon Materials, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan 030001, China
Abstract: Supercapacitors have great potential applications for electronic
devices, and energy recyling and storage areas owing to their high power
density, long cycle life, high safety and excellent performance at low
temperatures. The electrode materials and electrolytes are two key factors
that influence their performance. The electrode materials used in super-
capacitors include carbon materials such as activated carbons, carbon
nanotubes, graphene, carbon nanofibers and carbon nano-onions, metal
oxides, conductive polymers and their composites. The electrolytes are
aqueous electrolytes, organic electrolytes or ionic liquids. Here research
progress on the electrode materials and liquid electrolytes for super-
capacitors is summarized, their advantages and disadvantages are
analyzed, and new electrode materials and electrolytes are suggested.
[New Carbon Materials 2017, 32(2): 116-122]
THE HYDROTHERMAL SYNTHESIS OF b-Ni(OH)2 NANOFLAKES ON
CARBON CLOTH AND THEIR ELECTROCHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Qian-xiu Liu 1, 2, Chun-xiang Lu 1, 3, Qian Li 1, 2. 1 CAS Key Laboratory of
Carbon Materials, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences,
Taiyuan 030001, China; 2 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
100049, China; 3 National Engineering Laboratory for Carbon Fiber
Technology, Taiyuan 030001, China
Abstract: Carbon cloth (CC) coated with b-Ni(OH)2 nanoflakes was pre-
pared by a hydrothermal method using nickel nitrate, urea and ammonium
fluoride as the reaction system, and was characterized by SEM, XPS and
XRD. Results indicated that the acid treatment of the CC introduced more
active functional groups on its surface, which was beneficial to the coating
of the b-Ni(OH)2. The b-Ni(OH)2 nanoflakes were of high purity, and their
formation mechanism on the CC was investigated by observing their
morphology at different reaction times. It was revealed that the b-Ni(OH)2
were initially present in the form of discrete nanoparticles and nanoflakes
and after 6h formed a continuous and well-crystallized b-Ni(OH)2 nano-
flake with diameter and thickness of 1 mm and 10 nm, respectively.
Nanoflakes continued to form, grow and overlap and after 12 h the
thickness had increased to 200 nm. The sample at 6 h had the highest
specific capacitance of 815.67 F g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1, and
retained 98.1% of its initial capacitance after 4 000 cycles.
[New Carbon Materials 2017, 32(2): 123-129]
THE EFFECTS OF ACTIVATION METHOD ON THE PORE STRUCTURE AND
ELECTROCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF ORDERED MESOPOROUS CARBONS
USED AS THE ELECTRODE MATERIALS OF SUPERCAPACITORS
Mei-jun Liu 1, Dong-mei Fu 2, Chun-lei Wang 1, Pan-pan Mi 1, Tong-hua
Wang 1. 1 State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Carbon Research
Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of
Technology, Dalian 116024, China; 2 Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
Abstract: An ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) synthesized by the soft-
template method was activated by (a) CO2 at 900
C for 4 h, (b) H2O at 800

C for 20min, and (c) H O at 800
C for 20 min followed by CO at 900
C for
2 2
4 h to produce three micro-mesoporous carbons, A1, A2 and A3, respec-
tively. Their pore structures were investigated by XRD, TEM, SEM and N2
adsorption. Their electrochemical properties as the electrode materials of
supercapacitors were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic
charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Results
indicated that the highly ordered 2D hexagonal original mesostructure of
the OMC was well retained after activation. The increasing order of the
extent of activation is A1<A2<A3. The specific surface area, pore volume
and the specific capacitance of A3 compared to OMC respectively increased
significantly from 673 to 2404 m2/g, from 0.98 to 2.24 cm3/g and from 70 to
175 F/g at a current density of 500 mA/g. The increasing order of the
capacitance retention ratios of the activated samples at high current
densities is A1<A2<A3.
[New Carbon Materials 2017, 32(2): 130-136]
WAXD/SAXS STUDY AND 2D FITTING (SAXS) OF THE MICROSTRUCTURAL
EVOLUTION OF PAN-BASED CARBON FIBERS DURING THE PRE-
OXIDATION AND CARBONIZATION PROCESS
Xiao-yun Li 1, Feng Tian 1, Xue-ping Gao 2, Feng-gang Bian 1, Xiu-hong
Li 1, Jie Wang 1. 1 Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai
Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai,
201204, China; 2 Carbon Fiber Engineering Research Center, School of
Material Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong,
250061, China
Abstract: Microstructural evolution in polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers at
different temperatures during pre-oxidation and carbonization under
stretching was studied by synchrotron wide-angle X-ray diffraction
 Abstracts / Carbon 124 (2017) 722e724
(WAXD) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Microvoids were char-
acterized by the classical SAXS method, and were compared with simu-
lation results obtained by fitting 2D SAXS patterns to a model based on a
dilute system of cylindrical microvoids randomly distributed and prefer-
entially orientated along the fiber axis and having a log-normal size dis-
tribution. The WAXD results showed that the crystal size, d-spacing and
preferred orientation decreased during pre-oxidation, and increased dur-
ing carbonization. A diffraction peak for PAN fibers at 2q¼13.6
dis-
appeared during the final stage of pre-oxidation, meanwhile a new peak at
2q¼23.6
appeared, whose intensity increased during carbonization,
indicating the formation of the graphite structure. The average length of
the microvoids increased, and new microvoids were formed, which
became oriented along the fiber axis as the fiber manufacturing process
proceeded. The length of microvoids from simulation results is consistent
with that from the classical method, indicating that the model is valid to
describe the microvoid structure of fibers.
[New Carbon Materials 2017, 32(2): 137-142]
MICROSTRUCTURES AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF PYROCARBONS
PRODUCED FROM PHENOLIC RESIN WITH ADDED Ni(NO3)2
Tian-fei Ma 1, Xiao-xian Wu 2, Hong-xia Li 1, Guo-qi Liu 1, Wen-gang
Yang 1. 1 State Key Laboratory of Advanced Refractories, Sinosteel Luoyang
Institute of Refractories Research, Luoyang 471039, Henan, China; 2 Zhe
Jiang Institute of Geology and Mineral Resource, Hangzhou 310007,
Zhejiang, China
Abstract: A refractory containing graphite is commonly used in the
metallurgical industry in locations subject to severe thermal shock
because of the high thermal conductivity and good thermal shock resis-
tance of graphite. However, a refractory that uses phenolic resin as the
carbon precursor is brittle, and to improve its strength and toughness,
Ni(NO3)2 is added to the resin to catalyze the in-situ formation of carbon
nanofibers/nanotubes. The microstructure and mechanical properties of
the Ni(NO3)2-modified phenolic resin carbons were characterized by XRD,
SEM, TEM and mechanical tests. Results indicate that carbon nanofibers/
nanotubes (2% by volume) were formed within the pyrocarbons as a result
of the nickel catalyst and these are interconnected to form a network
structure. The nanocarbon fibers/tubes significantly improve the bend
strength, elastic modulus, tensile strength and fracture toughness of the
pyrocarbons and their fracture energies are increased accordingly.
[New Carbon Materials 2017, 32(2): 143-150]
ABLATION CHARACTERISTICS OF A 4D CARBON/CARBON COMPOSITE
UNDER A HIGH FLUX OF COMBUSTION PRODUCTS WITH A HIGH
CONTENT OF PARTICULATE ALUMINA IN A SOLID ROCKET MOTOR
Yang Liu, Jing-qiu Pei, Jiang Li, Guo-qiang He. Science and Technology on
Combustion, Internal Flow and Thermal-structure Laboratory, Northwestern
Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
Abstract: The ablation behavior of a four-directional carbon/carbon (C/C)
composite was examined in a lab-scale solid rocket motor under a high
flux of combustion products containing a high content of particulate
alumina. The composite consisted of three braided carbon fiber bundles at
120
to each other in the XY plane and a hexagonal array of carbon rods in
the Z direction, all in a pitch carbon matrix. The rods consisted of a uni-
directional array of the same carbon fibers in a pitch carbon matrix The
composite was placed in the rocket motor with its XY plane perpendicular
to the gas flow and its ablation rate, ablation behavior and microstructure
were investigated. The flow field of the combustion products was simu-
lated by solving the Reynolds-averaged NaviereStokes equations. A deep
pit was formed on the surface of the composite, the center of which co-
incides with the simulated particle accumulation area. The mechanical
erosion was significantly increased when the particle impact velocity
exceeded 96.82m/s. The carbon rods were more susceptible to erosion
than the surrounding fiber bundles. The maximum ablation rates of the
carbon rod and bundles were increased almost by an order of magnitude
by increasing the particle impact velocity by a factor of two. Numerous
crater-like pores on the ends of the carbon rods were formed by alumina
particle impaction, and the tips of the fibers in the carbon rods were almost
723
flat and lower than the surrounding matrix. Heating caused by the particle
impact increased the thermal oxidization and hence the overall ablation
rate of the composite.
[New Carbon Materials 2017, 32(2): 151-159]
PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF GRAPHENE/CARBON FIBER/
POLY(ETHER ETHER KETONE) COMPOSITES
Ya-nan Su 1, 2, Shou-chun Zhang 1, Xing-hua Zhang 1, Zhen-bo
Zhao 1, Cheng-meng Chen 1, De-qi Jing 1. 1 National Engineering Laboratory
for Carbon Fiber Technology, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy
of Science, Taiyuan 030001, China; 2 University of Chinese Academy of
Science, Beijing 100049, China
Abstract: Graphene/carbon fiber/poly(ether ether ketone) (GR/CF/PEEK)
composites were prepared by directly spraying a GR dispersion onto CF/
PEEK prepregs, followed by hot-pressing the stacked prepregs. The
structure of the prepregs and cross-section of the composites were char-
acterized by SEM. The mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of the
composites were measured to evaluate the influence of GR on their per-
formance. Results showed that the addition of 0.1 wt% GR increases the
interlaminar shear strength, the flexural strength and flexural modulus of
the composites from 57.3 MPa, 1 226.2 MPa and 64.5 GPa to 77.6 MPa, 1
512.3 MPa and 73.6 GPa, respectively. DSC analysis showed that the crys-
tallinity of the composites increased with the GR content. The thermal
conductivity and electrical conductivity of the composites were increased
by 15.5 and 73.1%, respectively after 0.5 wt% GR was added. The GR/CF/
PEEK composites have much better mechanical, thermal and electrical
performance than the CF/PEEK composites.
[New Carbon Materials 2017, 32(2): 160-167]
GRAPHENE OXIDE: A NOVEL ACID CATALYST FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF
2,5-DIMETHYL-N-PHENYL PYRROLE BY THE PAALeKNORR
CONDENSATION
Chun-yan Chen 1, 2, Xiao-ya Guo 1, Guang-qiang Lu 2, Christian Marcus
Pedersen 3, Yan Qiao 4, Xiang-lin Hou 2, Ying-xiong Wang 2. 1 Department
of Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China;
2
Shanxi Engineering Research Center of Biorefinery, Institute of Coal
Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 27 South Taoyuan Road, Taiyuan,
030001, China; 3 Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen,
Universitetsparken 5, DK-2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark; 4 State Key
Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, 27 South Taoyuan Road, Taiyuan, 030001, China
Abstract: Graphene oxide (GO) was used as an efficient and recyclable
catalyst for the synthesis of N-substituted pyrrole using a PaaleKnorr
condensation reaction between 2,5-hexanedione and aniline. The effects
of reaction time, reaction temperature, solvent, catalyst loading and molar
ratio of aniline to 2,5-hexanedione on the yield of 2,5-dimethyl-N-phenyl
pyrrole were investigated. In situ NMR was used to follow the PaaleKnorr
reaction at the molecular level. Results revealed that the oxygen-con-
taining groups of GO, such as sulfonic acid and carboxyl groups, played a
key role in this catalytic reaction. Polar protic solvents were favorable for
the reaction. The catalytic activity increased with temperature without any
side reaction. The GO could be easily recovered and showed remarkable
reusability and excellent catalytic performance allowing it to be reused 5
times.
[New Carbon Materials 2017, 32(2): 168-173]
INVESTIGATION OF DEFECTS IN A MESOPHASE PITCH-BASED GRAPHITE
AT THE ATOMIC SCALE
Ju Rong 1, 2, Yuan-yuan Zhu 1, Zhen Fan 3, Zhi-hai Feng 3, Lian-long
He 1. 1 Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of
Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China;
2
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;
3
National Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Composite Materials,
Aerospace Research Institute of Materials & Processing Technology, Beijing
100076, China