A porous biomorphic carbon template (BCT) was prepared using a carbonized native aspen under an Ar atmosphere. Microstructural properties of the BCT were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Non-isothermal oxidation properties and the mechanism of the BCT formation were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Experimental results show that microstructure of the BCT exhibits a honeycomb interconnected porous network and double-peaked distribution of pore diameters. The BCT phase belongs to amorphous carbon, with an increase of the carbonization temperature, the (002) peak of the XRD spectrum becomes stronger, the interplanar spacing decrease, and the structure of BCT slowly evolved towards that of ideal graphite. The non-isothermal oxidation process of BCT is controlled by a chemical reaction and gas diffusion together, and the two stages have different influences on the whole reaction rate with an increase of the conversion (a). The corresponding activation energy (E) is also calculated.

Keywords: biomorphic carbon template; structure properties; oxidation mechanism