On fractal nature of the structure of nanoporous carbon obtained from carbides

Abstract

The curves describing small-angle x-ray scattering at npor-C nanoporous carbon samples obtained from polycrystalline α-SiC, TiC, and Mo₂C and a 6H-SiC single crystal have been analyzed. An algorithm is developed for taking into account the corrections to experimental curves for the intensity of the primary beam transmitted through the sample and the height of the inlet slit in these measurements. Two systems of nanoclusters observed in the npor-C structure differ in the type of stacking of structural elements: small-scale mass fractals of a dimension 1<D ₂<3 and a size L ₂=50–90 Å, which depend on the type of the initial carbide, and large-scale nanoclusters having a size L ₁>550 Å. In most samples, large-scale nanoclusters can be regarded as objects with a fractal surface and a dimension 2<D ₁<13, which also depends on the type of the initial carbide. Large-scale nanoclusters in npor-C obtained from Mo₂C prove to be mass fractals with a dimension D ₁>2. Peculiarities of the structure formation of nanoporous carbon obtained from various carbides are discussed.