Cage structure development in furan-resin-derived carbon

Furan-resin is one of the thermosetting resins. Carbons synthesized from th ermosetting resins are generally grouped into non-graphitizable carbons. We investigated the microstructures of furan-resin-derived carbon under high- temperature heat treatments in detail by transmission electron microscopy. The carbons heat-treated at 1773 K or lower temperatures exhibited amorphou s structure. The carbon heat-treated at 2073 K revealed a cage structure co mposed of several wavy graphene layers, The specimens heat-treated at highe r temperatures exhibited a more developed cage structure, as evidenced by t he number of stacked layers and the periodicity. In the case of 3273 K, abo ut 10 graphene layers formed the cage structure and the cage periodicity wa s approximately 6 nm.