Neutron diffraction and thermodynamics of deuterium adsorption in amorphous carbon materials with a uniform pore network.

A coordinated thermodynamic and neutron diffraction investigation of the sorption properties of D2 within an amorphous carbon material with a uniform, close-packed network of open pores has been undertaken. The volumetric adsorption studies are used to determine the gas capacity, the heat of adsorption and as a guide to the neutron diffraction experiments. By combining the results of the thermodynamic measurements with the findings in the structural measurements a precise description of structure of the adsorbed phase as a function of gas filling is possible. Because the pores in these carbon materials are unequivocally open these findings have a direct impact on the interpretation of earlier adsorption and diffraction experiments involving carbon nanotubes.