PAN-based carbon fibers were treated by a direct oxyfluorination method to study the chemical surface
composition and electrokinetic behavior of the fibers. The physicochemical properties of the fibers were
investigated by using a photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and zeta (ζ)-potential. As a result, the surface
functional groups, including C−O, CO, HO−CO, and C−F
x
after oxyfluorination, were formed on the
carbon fiber surfaces. And the time dependence of the ζ-potential of oxyfluorinated carbon fibers reflected
the surface bonding state of the obtained fiber materials, due to the dissociation of C−F
x
groups. These
results could be explained by the modification of chemical composition and the formation of physical bonding
on the fiber surfaces, which could be attributed to the oxyfluorination.