Study of active carbons by X-ray methods

The X-ray scattering properties of carbon black and charcoals, activated chemically and by steam have been studied in a transmission arrangement. The radial distribution functions calculated from the experimental data indicate that the majority of carbon atoms in chemically activated samples have sp³ configurations, characteristic of strained ring systems. Activation by steam produces a small amount of crystalline graphite. Most of the carbon atoms in carbon black are in an sp²-hybrid state, apparently because of the presence of contaminating atoms in appreciable amount, although no crystalline graphite can be detected.