Abstract
A series of activated carbons (ACs) were derived from sugarcane bagasse under two activation schemes: steam-pyrolysis at $600-800^{\circ}C$ and chemical activation with $H_3PO_4$ at $500^{\circ}C$. Some carbons were treated at 400, $600^{\circ}C$, or for 1-3 h, and/or in flowing air during pyrolysis of acid-impregnated mass. XRD profiles displayed two broad diffuse bands centered around $2{\theta}=23$ and $43^{\circ}$, currently associated with diffraction from the 002 and 100/101 set of planes in graphite, respectively. These correspond to the interlayer spacing, Lc, and microcrystallite lateral dimensions, La, of the turbostratic (fully disordered) graphene layers. Steam pyrolysis-activated carbons exhibit only the two mentioned broad bands with enhancement in number of layers, with temperature, and small decrease in microcrystallite diameter, La. XRD patterns of $H_3PO_4$-ACs display more developed and separated peaks in the early region with maxima at $2{\theta}=23$, 26 and $29^{\circ}$, possibly ascribed to fragmented microcrystallites (or partially organized structures). Diffraction within the $2{\theta}=43^{\circ}$ is still broad although depressed and diffuse, suggesting that the intragraphitic layers are less developed. Varying the conditions of chemical activation inflicts insignificant structural alterations. Circulating air during pyrolysis leads to enhancement of the basic graphitic structure with destruction and degradation in the lateral dimensions.