A method of producing a sulfonated polymer. The method includes providing a source for a quantity of a polymer containing polymer fibers. The quantity of the polymer is heated while immersed in sulfuric acid to 100-200? C. for a period time in a closed reactor containing an atmosphere and capable of holding pressure generated by a reaction between the quantity of the polymer and the sulfuric acid resulting in a sulfonated polymer, wherein substantially all the quantity of the polymer from the source is converted into sulfonated polymer. The sulfonated polymer is then removed from the reactor and dried. An electrode suitable for use as an electrode in an electrochemical energy storage cell is disclosed. The electrode contains amorphous porous carbon fibers made from a sulfonated polymer with a morphology wherein the amorphous porous carbon fibers have the morphology of the sulfonated polymer from which they are made.

A method of producing a sulfonated polymer. The method includes providing a source for a quantity of a polymer containing polymer fibers. The quantity of the polymer is heated while immersed in sulfuric acid to 100-200? C. for a period time in a closed reactor containing an atmosphere and capable of holding pressure generated by a reaction between the quantity of the polymer and the sulfuric acid resulting in a sulfonated polymer, wherein substantially all the quantity of the polymer from the source is converted into sulfonated polymer. The sulfonated polymer is then removed from the reactor and dried. An electrode suitable for use as an electrode in an electrochemical energy storage cell is disclosed. The electrode contains amorphous porous carbon fibers made from a sulfonated polymer with a morphology wherein the amorphous porous carbon fibers have the morphology of the sulfonated polymer from which they are made.

A hollow fiber carbon membrane is produced by preparing a membrane-forming dope for carbon membranes by dissolving polyphenylene oxide in an amount giving a concentration of 15 to 40 wt. % in the membrane-forming dope, and sulfur in an amount giving a ratio of 0.2 to 3.0 wt. % based on the polyphenylene oxide, in a solvent capable of dissolving these components; preparing the membrane-forming dope for carbon membranes into a hollow shape by means of a spinning method in accordance with a non-solvent induced separation method using a double annular nozzle; performing a crosslinking treatment at 200 to 240? C. in the air; then performing an infusibilization treatment by heating at 250 to 350? C.; and further performing a carbonization treatment by heating at 450 to 850? C. in an inert atmosphere or under vacuum.

A hollow fiber carbon membrane is produced by preparing a membrane-forming dope for carbon membranes by dissolving polyphenylene oxide in an amount giving a concentration of 15 to 40 wt. % in the membrane-forming dope, and sulfur in an amount giving a ratio of 0.2 to 3.0 wt. % based on the polyphenylene oxide, in a solvent capable of dissolving these components; preparing the membrane-forming dope for carbon membranes into a hollow shape by means of a spinning method in accordance with a non-solvent induced separation method using a double annular nozzle; performing a crosslinking treatment at 200 to 240? C. in the air; then performing an infusibilization treatment by heating at 250 to 350? C.; and further performing a carbonization treatment by heating at 450 to 850? C. in an inert atmosphere or under vacuum.

There is provided a conductive fibrous material comprising a plurality of carbonaceous fibers, wherein each carbonaceous fiber is fused to at least one other fiber. The carbonaceous fibers may be fused at fiber-to-fiber contact points by a polymer. The process of making the conductive fibrous material comprises mixing a phenolic polymer with a second polymer to form a polymer solution, preparing phenolic fibers having nano- or micro-scale diameters by electrospinning the polymer solution, and subsequent carbonization of the obtained phenolic fibers, thereby generating carbonaceous fibers, wherein each carbonaceous fiber is fused to at least one other fiber. The conductive fibrous material may be useful in electrode materials for energy storage devices.

There is provided a conductive fibrous material comprising a plurality of carbonaceous fibers, wherein each carbonaceous fiber is fused to at least one other fiber. The carbonaceous fibers may be fused at fiber-to-fiber contact points by a polymer. The process of making the conductive fibrous material comprises mixing a phenolic polymer with a second polymer to form a polymer solution, preparing phenolic fibers having nano- or micro-scale diameters by electrospinning the polymer solution, and subsequent carbonization of the obtained phenolic fibers, thereby generating carbonaceous fibers, wherein each carbonaceous fiber is fused to at least one other fiber. The conductive fibrous material may be useful in electrode materials for energy storage devices.

A flameproof polyphenylene ether formed body of the present invention has a minimum value (%/ C.) of 0.40%/ C. or more and 0.10%/ C. or less in a differential thermogravimetric curve in a range of 400 C. to 550 C.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method capable of easily controlling the permeation rate and the selectivity of gas molecules, in a hollow fiber carbon membrane which can be used as a gas separation membrane. The present invention provides a method of producing a hollow fiber carbon membrane, the method including: a preparation step of preparing a precursor made of an organic polymer compound in the form of a hollow fiber; a preheating step of heating the precursor to a temperature of 150 C. to 400 C. in an atmosphere containing an oxygen gas; and a carbonization step of heating the precursor which has been subjected to the preheating step to a temperature of 450 C. to 850 C., thereby carbonizing the precursor; wherein the carbonization step includes heating the precursor in the presence of a hydrocarbon gas which may contain a nitrogen atom and which has from 1 to 8 carbon atoms. This method allows for easily controlling the permeation rate and the selectivity of gas molecules, in the resulting hollow fiber carbon membrane.

Poly-(caffeyl alcohol) (PCFA), also known as C-lignin, is a promising new source of both carbon fibers and pure carbon. PCFA can be used to produce carbon fibers by direct electrospinning, without blending with another polymer to reduce breakage. Analyses have shown that the carbon obtained from PCFA is superior to that obtained from other lignins. The fibers formed from PCFA are smoother, have a narrower diameter distribution, and show very low defects. The PCFA can be obtained by extraction from plant seed coats. Examples of these plants include the vanilla orchid, Vanilla planifolia, and Jatropha curcas. The fibers may be formed through electrospinning, although other methods for forming the fibers, such as extrusion with a carrier polymer, could be used. The fibers may then be carbonized to increase the carbon yield.

A carbon fiber wherein an average fiber diameter of a single fiber is in a range of 3 to 10 m, and an average value of an intensity ratio (D/G) of a D peak to a G peak in a Raman spectrum in a cross section perpendicular to a fiber axis direction of the single fiber is 0.90 or less in a region inside a circle having a diameter of 1 m and centered at a center of gravity of the cross section of the single fiber, and is 0.90 or less in a region up to 1 m inside from an outer periphery of the cross section of the single fiber, wherein the D peak is observed at around 1360 cm.sup.1 and derived from a defect in a graphite structure and the G peak is observed at around 1590 cm.sup.1 and derived from the graphite structure.