Activated carbon fibers and films derived from poly(vinylidene fluoride) Original Research Article

Activated carbons having different ranges of pore sizes from those derived by the conventional heat-treatment of organic compounds have been produced by carrying out a part of the conversion process through a liquid phase chemical treatment. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) was chosen as a starting polymer by taking into account the processability of this polymer into various geometries. The PVDF fibers and films were converted to activated carbons by using the combination of chemical dehydrofluorination with a strong base, high-temperature heat-treatment and activation in a carbon dioxide gas. The resulting activated carbon film exhibited superior methylene blue adsorption of 538 mg g−1. Formation of a rigid skeleton during dehydrofluorination accounted for the ability of dehydrofluorinated PVDF to maintain its macroscopic precursor geometry during high-temperature heat-treatment and the formation of pores with large sizes.