Study of the microporous texture of active carbons by Small Angle Neutron Scattering

This chapter investigates the microporous texture of active carbons by small angle neutron scattering. The nature and the concentration of surface groups may be modified by suitable chemical treatments. Oxidation in the liquid phase can be used to increase the concentration of surface groups. To replace hydrogen of surface functions with deuterium, samples were treated at room temperature with DNO 3 –15% in D 2 O. The chapter investigates small angle neutrons scattering (SANS) to characterize activated carbon with much efficiency. In modeling the SANS curves by appropriate pore volume distributions, it was observed that the mean size and the width of the distribution in micropores differs from one activated carbon (AC) to another and fits are useful to distinguish the degree of anisometry of pores. By using contrast matching technique the role played by the surface chemistry is confirmed using a nitric acid attack.