Characterisation of carbonaceous materials derived from polyparaphenylene pyrolyzed at low temperature

Polyparaphenylene (PPP) was pyrolyzed at 700°C for increasing treatment times in argon gas and for 6 h in different atmospheres (argon gas, hydrogen gas and under dynamic vacuum). Systematic analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopies, and elemental analysis were performed in order to characterize the derived materials and to better understand the mechanisms of the PPP decomposition. A study of the porous structure completes this characterization. Thus, the thermal conversion of organic materials to carbon can be studied, especially at the beginning of the polymer degradation. Important parameters for the application of these polymers pyrolyzed as anodic materials for secondary lithium-ion battery application, such as the hydrogen content and the porous texture, are given in this work.