Research on Characterization and Structural Analysis of Graphitic Carbons

Characterization and Structural Analysis of Graphitic Carbons

Why do we focus on Carbons?

Carbon is one of the most fascinating elements, used in various fields. Whether in the form of non-graphitic or mesoporous carbons as potential storage media for greenhouse and exhaust gases, as additives for lubricants, or in the form of graphitic carbons and graphites in electrochemical applications such as lithium, sodium, or aluminum-ion batteries (i.e., LIB, NIB, AIB). Carbons are among the materials produced and applied on a million-ton scale.

 

Obtaining precise information about the microstructure of carbon materials is one of the main research areas of the Smarsly group. We employ various methods, foremost among them X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy!

Current Research Projects / Contacts

In the BMBF project ALIBES (Aluminum-Ion-Batteries for Stationary Energy Storage), Christian is working on the characterization and microstructural analysis of graphitic carbons/graphites as cathode materials in AIBs.
Feel free to stop by office B 45 if you are interested in a Bachelor’s/Master’s or advanced thesis!

Further Reading

Assessing the structural properties of graphitic and non-graphitic carbons by Raman spectroscopy
D. B. Schuepfer, F. Badaczewski, J. M. Guerra-Castro, D. M. Hofmann, C. Heiliger, B. M. Smarsly, P. J. Klar (2020). Carbon, 161, 359-372, 2257-2268.
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2019.12.094

Monitoring the thermally induced transition from sp3-hybridized into sp2-hybridized carbons
D. B. Schuepfer, F. Badaczewski, J. Peilstöcker, J. M. Guerra-Castro, H. Shim, S. Firoozabadi, A. Beyer, K. Volz, V. Presser, C. Heiliger, B. M. Smarsly, P. J. Klar (2021). Carbon, 172, 214-227.
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2020.09.063

Comparative Microstructural Analysis of Non-graphitic Carbons by Wide-angle X-ray and Neutron Scattering
T. Pfaff, F.  Badaczewski, M. O. Loeh, A. Franz, J.-U. Hoffmann, M. Reehuis, W. G. Zeier, B. M. Smarsly (2019). The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 123, 20532 - 20546. 
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.9b03590

Analysis of thermally induced changes in the structure of coal tar pitches by an advanced evaluation method of X-ray scattering data
M.O. Loeh, F. Badaczewski, K. Faber, S. Hintner, M.F. Bertino, P. Mueller, J. Metz, B. M. Smarsly (2016). Carbon, 109, 823-835.
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2016.08.031

OctCarb—A GNU Octave Script for the Analysis and Evaluation of Wide-Angle Scattering Data of Non-Graphitic Carbons
O. Osswald, B.M. Smarsly (2022). C. 8, 4, 78.
DOI: 10.3390/c8040078

CarbX: a program for the evaluation of wide-angle X-ray scattering data of non-graphitic carbons
T. Pfaff, M. Simmermacher, B. M. Smarsly (2018). J. Appl. Cryst., 51, 219-229.
DOI: 10.1107/S1600576718000195

X-ray Scattering of Non-Graphitic Carbon: An Improved Method of Evaluation
W. Ruland, B. M. Smarsly (2002). J. Appl. Cryst., 35, 624-633.
DOI: 10.1107/S0021889802011007