EFFECT OF FERROCENE ON THE CARBONIZATION OF POLY(VINYLIDENE CHLORIDE)

Iron-containing carbons (0.4-8.9 wt % Fe) were prepared by pyrolysis at 400-degrees-C of poly(vinylidene chloride) physically mixed with ferrocene. The electrical conductivity of the carbons with a small amount of iron is higher by 10 orders of magnitude at maximum than the carbon without iron. Comparison of the degree of carbonization of the iron-containing carbons with that of the carbon without iron using pi-electronic excitations for infrared ray revealed that the effect of iron addition is to promote carbonization. X-ray diffraction observation also indicated the development of graphitic structure with the increase in the iron content. From X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements, the effective iron species for the promotion of carbonization reaction seems to be small iron clusters with lower valence state. Addition of iron species can be one way to modify the electrical properties of carbons prepared at lower temperatures.