The first investigations results the formation of the electronic structure of the Co/Polyacrylonitrile composite, synthesized using IR-pyrolysis under low vacuum conditions are shown. The research of polyacrylonitrile electronic structure as a function of Co doping, separately from effect IR pyrolysis, has been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and polarization-dependent X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy.
It was observed, that the carbon atoms of the polymer chains are not involved in the formation of a chemical bond with the cobalt. It was shown, that Co-containing centers are associated with nitrogen in the pyridine rings.
Cobalt does exist in the Co/PAN composite in an oxidic form. Despite the random orientation of the polymer chains in the samples, the angle-depended sensitivity of the C and N K-edge absorption spectra are observed.