Determination of the textural characteristics of carbon samples using scanning electronic microscopy images: comparison with mercury porosimetry data

In this paper, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of carbon samples were analysed, and some textural characteristics were obtained and compared with those determined using mercury porosimetry data. Fractal dimensions were calculated from both mercury porosimetry and SEM images as methods for characterising the porous distribution (heterogeneity) of the samples. Lacunarity is easily determined from SEM images as a measure of the degree of heterogeneity of a porous surface. A relationship between the lacunarity and the fractal dimensions calculated using both methods is shown. Pore-size distributions were also determined from the analysis of SEM images. We show that the analysis of SEM images is a valuable complement to mercury porosimetry measurements and a useful tool for the characterisation of porous surfaces. This method offers the possibility of evaluating the features of porous materials and comparing the results to those obtained using mercury intrusion analysis.