The X-ray diffraction (XRD) of alcohol molecules such as methanol, ethanol,
and I-propanol confined in slit-shaped graphitic micropores of activated c
arbon fibers (ACFs) having different pore widths was measured at 303 K. The
effect of the pore width on the molecular assembly structure of alcohol in
the micropores was examined. The XRD patterns were analyzed by use of the
electron radial distribution function (ERDF) analysis. The adsorbed density
of alcohol in micropores of 1.1 nm in width was close to the solid density
, while that in micropores of 0.7 nm in width was smaller than the liquid d
ensity. The ERDF of alcohol adsorbed in the 0.7 nm micropores showed a high
ly ordered structure compared with the 1.1 nm micropores, which is complete
ly different from the adsorbed density results. It was presumed that alcoho
l molecules are hydrogen-bonded to form a layered structure, which is fit f
or the slit-shaped micropore. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res
erved.