Cone structure of hexagonal carbon sheets stacked in wood cell lumen

Abstract

Cone-shaped carbon particles were produced inside the cell lumen of sugi (Japanese cedar) charcoal treated at 2500°C. We succeeded in clarifying the structural and morphological features by separating the cone-shaped carbon from the carbonized cell wall by heating to 800°C in air. Cone-shaped carbon is less susceptible to oxidation than the carbonized cell wall. The isolated cone-shaped carbon and carbonized cell wall fracture were observed separately by transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction. Results revealed that the cone-shaped carbon has a very highly ordered cone structure with regularly stacked hexagonal carbon sheets, whereas the carbonized cell wall has a disordered structure of mosaic-like turbostratic carbon.