Raman spectra of polyparaphenylene-based carbon prepared at low heat-treatment temperatures

Abstract

Raman spectroscopy was used to characterize the structural development of polyparaphenylene (PPP) based carbon at various heat treatment temperatures (THT), with an emphasis on the low THT regime. Experimental data show that PPP-based carbons undergo a smooth transiiton from a mostly PPP polymer-type structure for heat treatments below ∼750°C to a graphitized structure at a heat treatment temperature of 2700°C. These results give insight into the unusually high specific capacities observed in lithium-PPP systems which are of particular interest for application to Li ion battery technology. © 1996 American Institute of Physics.