Molecular Dynamics Simulation for Temperature and Graphite-Like Structure Effects on Amorphous Carbon Graphitization

The effects of temperature and graphite-like structure additive on the graphitization process of amorphous carbon were investigated through molecular dynamics simulation. The molecular models of amorphous carbon and graphite-like structure-amorphous carbon were constructed with the initial density of 1.62 g/cm3 and carbon atoms number of 4096 by rapid quenching method. After annealing treatment at 3200 K, 3600 K and 4000 K respectively, the evolution rules of sp2 C atoms and the instantaneous conformations of the graphite-like structure-amorphous carbon system were analyzed to investigate the effects of temperature and graphite-like structure on the graphitization process. It could be found that increasing graphitization temperature properly could improve graphitization degree of amorphous carbon. Addition of graphite-like structure could promote recrystallization of the irregular carbon atoms in amorphous carbon materials, thus accelerating graphitization process and promoting graphitization of the system.