Electrochemical activity and damage of single carbon fiber

Abstract

The electrochemical activity of a carbon fiber was characterized at different potentials in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution, and the fiber cylindrical surface changed by polarization at different potentials was revealed by SEM, AFM, optical microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and XRD. The results showed that the carbon fiber exhibited different electrochemical activities at some polarization potentials; within a 3V potential range the anodic and cathodic polarization current densities stepped up by more than 5 orders of magnitude, and the carbon fiber (CF) surface dramatically changed with time. Strong anodic polarization appeared to facilitate the breakdown of C-C covalent bonds in the carbon fiber and enhance the amorphization of the fiber surface.