Elemental metals, oxides, or alloys distributed on a carbon substrate or self-supported and process therefor

Abstract

A plurality of processes for producing unique end products containing elemental metals or metal oxides on and in a carbon substrate, elemental metals or metal oxides in the absence of such a carbon substrate, mixtures of elemental metals or metal oxides on and in a carbon substrate, or mixtures of elemental metals or metal oxides in the absence of such a carbon substrate, all of which processes involve the preparation of a first-step intermediate product that is a carbonaceous material appearing to be non-graphitic by X-ray diffraction standards and containing metal and halogen, which intermediate product is made from graphite fluoride and an appropriate metal halide. Among the end products are aluminum oxide fibers, elemental iron fibers, magnetic carbon fibers containing either iron or an iron-nickel alloy, and carbon containing various metals in the form of elemental metal or oxides.

Description

ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION

The invention described herein was made by an employee of the U.S. Government and may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

INTRODUCTION

This invention relates to products of elemental metals, their oxides, or their alloys that may be self-supporting structures or structures distributed on (or within) a carbon substrate; it further deals with methods to produce such materials through the use of a method that generates an intermediate product that incorporates a metal, its fluoride, and a halogen within the structure of a carbonaceous material that may then be used in a plurality of secondary processes to produce a plurality of end products. More specifically, the unique products, which can be made with a variety of metals from their halides and employing graphite fluoride to generate an intermediate halogenated carbonaceous product incorporating the metals that is then dehalogenated to produce metals or metal oxides distributed on a carbon substrate. The carbon can also be oxidized away to result in a self-supporting lacy network of the metals or metal oxides. Whether or not they include the carbon substrate, the resulting materials, having high specific surface area (i.e., having a large area of exposed surface per gram of product), are expected to find use as catalysts, in batteries, in carbon-matrix composites, or, when the metal used includes iron, cobalt, or nickel, in the production of a magnetic material.

PRIOR ART

Prior work relating to this invention is presented in a co-pending application for U.S. patent, application Ser. No. 08/258,961, CHEMICALLY MODIFIED CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS MADE BY THE DEFLUORINATION OF GRAPHITE FLUORIDE AND PROCESS THEREFOR, filed Jun. 13, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,683 which is incorporated herein by reference. The following are seen as differences between this disclosure and that of the previous application:

a. the prior disclosure teaches only one chloride reactant, FeCl.sub.3 ; b. the prior disclosure teaches the producing of iron oxides in or on a carbon substrate, whereas this disclosure teaches the producing of oxides, pure metals or alloys, either in or on carbon, or even without the presence of carbon in the end product; c. the prior disclosure teaches heating the intercalated intermediate product (i.e., the product of the FeCl.sub.3 and CF.sub.x reaction) in an "inert" environment, whereas this disclosure includes steps to supply extra oxygen to allow complete oxidation of the metals, thereby resulting in higher metal or alloy concentrations.

Applicant is aware of no prior art closely related to the present invention, other than his own publications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a method for producing a variety of materials from a graphite fluoride starting material in either a fibrous or a powdered form and at least one metal halide, which materials produced contain residual metal from said halide in the form of the elemental metal, or oxides thereof, which product residual metal is in or on a carbonaceous substrate remaining from said graphite fluoride, or which product residual metal is present in the absence of any carbon.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method for producing from graphite fluoride and a metal halide a first-stage intermediate product in which the metal halide has entered into and altered the laminar crystal structure typical of said graphite fluoride, thereby resulting in a carbonaceous material appearing to be non-graphitic by X-ray diffraction standards and containing said first metal, its fluoride, and said halogen, which material is useful as an intermediate in a plurality of processes.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method for producing from such a first-stage intermediate product an end product that is the oxide of metal from the metal halide used to make the intermediate product and said end product contains substantially no carbon.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method for producing from such a first-stage intermediate product an end product that is the oxide of metal from the metal halide used to make the intermediate product and said end product contains carbon.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method for producing from such a first-stage intermediate product an end product that is a carbonaceous product containing metal from the metal halide used to make the intermediate product.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method for producing from such a first-stage intermediate product an end product that is the metal from the metal halide used to make the intermediate product and said end product contains substantially no carbon.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method for producing from such a first-stage intermediate product an end product that is the metal from the metal halide used to make the intermediate product and a second metal that is merely placed adjacent the reacting intermediate product.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method for producing from such a first-stage intermediate product an end product that is an oxide of the metal from the metal halide used to make the intermediate product and an oxide of a second metal that is merely placed adjacent the reacting intermediate product.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method for producing from such a first-stage intermediate product an end product that is the metal from the metal halide used to make the intermediate product and a second metal that is merely placed adjacent the reacting intermediate product and said end product contains carbon.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method for producing from such a first-stage intermediate product an end product that is an oxide of the metal from the metal halide used to make the intermediate product and an oxide of a second metal that is merely placed adjacent the reacting intermediate product and said end product contains carbon.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method to produce such a first-stage intermediate product specifically containing zinc, copper, aluminum, a mixture of copper and palladium, and mixtures thereof.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method to produce, through the use of such a first-stage intermediate product amorphous aluminum oxide fibers.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method to produce, through the use of such a first-stage intermediate product crystalline aluminum oxide fibers.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method to produce, through the use of such a first-stage intermediate product carbonaceous fibers containing FeO and Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4, but no Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method to produce, through the use of such a first-stage intermediate product carbonaceous fiber containing Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4, which fiber is attracted to a magnet.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method to produce, through the use of such a first-stage intermediate product carbonaceous fibers containing elemental iron crystals.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method to produce, through the use of such a first-stage intermediate product carbonaceous fibers containing elemental iron crystals having an iron:carbon ratio of approximately 1:4, which fiber is attracted to a magnet.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method to produce, through the use of such a first-stage intermediate product, fibers of metallic iron.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method to produce, through the use of such a first-stage intermediate product, carbon fibers containing a nickel-iron alloy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The following figures are incorporated to help in understanding the features of the present invention:

FIG. 1 illustrates in a block diagram the process steps of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a photomicrograph showing one of the unique products from one process of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST MODE

The process of this invention can best be understood by reference to FIG. 1.

Graphite fluoride (CF.sub.x) in direct contact with a metal halide (MX.sub.n) or a mixture of a group of metal halides is heated in an inert atmosphere (e.g., nitrogen or a noble gas, such as helium or argon should all be suitable), an inert gas atmosphere with chlorine present, or in a chlorine atmosphere to a temperature of 100-450.degree. C. (degrees Celsius). Temperature history affects the process and the products. The optimum temperature or temperature history for this first step reaction depends upon the particular halide(s) being used. Specific details of this process are taught herein by including an abundance of examples. The majority of fluorine is removed from carbon in CF.sub.x during this reaction. The products from this first step process are carbonaceous products that do not exhibit X-ray diffraction patterns characteristic of the inter-laminar spacing of graphite, so they are considered non-graphitic. The crystal structure of each is believed to be laminar, but not uniformly spaced, thereby creating a broad, flattened peak in the region in which graphite would show a sharp peak. Evidence suggests metal fluoride and/or low purity metal has entered the crystal structure between the laminae, but this first-step product should not be called an intercalated graphite product.

When the CF.sub.x used as a reactant has been made from a fibrous graphitized carbon, the product of this first-step reaction may have a very high concentration of many different kinds of metal and halogen atoms, causing the carbon's structure to be under great stress. This stress reduces the tensile strength of the fiber, an undesirable result. Simply washing these fibers with water has, in some cases, been found to ameliorate this problem, apparently by selectively removing some metal and halogen atoms.

EXAMPLE 1

Dusting ZnCl.sub.2 powder onto CF.sub.0.68 fibers and heating this system at 310.degree. C. for 7 hours caused the CF.sub.0.68 to defluorinate. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data revealed that the product of this reaction contained ZnF.sub.2 crystals. Examining the energy dispersive spectrum (EDS) of the sample, however, indicated the presence of some chlorine atoms, also. This product was subsequently heated with additional ZnCl.sub.2 in nitrogen for 5 hours at 400.degree. C., then rinsed in cold water; the product displayed XRD results characteristics of graphite and contained no ZnF.sub.2 (by XRD analysis). EDS showed that some zinc and chlorine were still present. The empirical formula of this product sample appears to be approximately C.sub.36 ZnCl.sub.2, indicated by EDS studies. It should be pointed out that the electron beam used to generate EDS results is capable of penetrating a sample only to a depth of about 2 .mu.m (i.e., 2.times.10.sup.-6 meters). Thus, the EDS data used to estimate some of the empirical formulas in this disclosure comes from only this 2-.mu.m-thick outer layer of the sample.

EXAMPLE 2

The experiment described in Example 1 was repeated, except that CuCl.sub.2 was used instead of ZnCl.sub.2. CuCl.sub.2 will release chlorine gas upon heating. Exposing CF.sub.0.68 fibers and CuCl.sub.2 to a temperature of 310.degree. C. for 30 hours in an environment that contained chlorine gas and nitrogen, resulted in a fiber product that contained CuF.sub.2. Analysis also showed the product to be partially intercalated with CuCl.sub.2 (stages 1 and 6, low mixed-stage XRD peaks). The empirical formula of this product sample was estimated from EDS data to be CF.sub.0.5 Cu.sub.0.2 Cl.sub.0.65. After further reaction at 390.degree. C. in the same environment for an additional 2 hours, the product had high XRD peaks indicative of a mixed 1st- and 6th-stage CuCl.sub.2 intercalated graphite compound. The electrical conductivity of this product was approximately twice that of the pristine carbon from which the CF.sub.0.68 reactant was made. After rinsing, the product lost the majority of fluorine and the intercalation-indicating XRD peaks were no longer present. Yet this product retained a very high concentration of copper. The empirical formula of this product sample appears (from EDS data) to be approximately CO.sub.0.125 Cu.sub.0.15 Cl.sub.0.5.

EXAMPLE 3

Dusting CuCl.sub.2 powder on CF.sub.0.68 fibers and heating this system to 390.degree. C. for 2 hours resulted in a product containing CuF.sub.2 in carbon and a stage 2 CuCl.sub.2 -graphite intercalation compound.

Samples of the intermediate products, comprising carbon that contains metal halides or, in the special case of palladium, contains pure metals, were then heated in several different experiments. Depending upon the heating temperature, the heating duration, and the oxygen partial pressure to which the intermediate product is exposed, heating results in different products. This result is described as follows:

The intermediate product is exposed to air at a temperature of at least 420.degree. C. The oxidation reaction is allowed to continue until all carbon and halogens are removed, resulting in pure metal oxide as a product.

Example 4

CF.sub.0.68 fibers were exposed to AlCl.sub.3 vapors at 125.degree. C. for 10 hours, followed by 190.degree. C. for 15 hours, cooled, then rinsed in cold water. The defluorination was not complete in this case, but a vary large quantity of aluminum entered the fiber sample. The empirical formula for the product was approximately C.sub.3 AlF.sub.0.5 Cl.sub.0.5. Heating the non-rinsed product in air at 500.degree. C. for two weeks resulted in amorphous Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 fibers. Heating the non-rinsed product in air at 1000.degree. C. resulted in crystalline Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 fibers.

The intermediate product is exposed to air at a temperature of up to 420.degree. C. The oxidation of the metal at these temperatures is much faster than the oxidation of carbon. Therefore, halogens in metal halides can be replaced by oxygen to obtain a product of metal oxides in or on carbon fibers. The metal oxides, in general, have a much higher boiling point than do the metal halides, so the oxides may subsequently be reduced to elemental metal or alloys of metals by high-temperature treatment in a reducing environment without significant evaporative loss of the reactants. Thus, the final product is a metal or a metal alloy in carbon fibers. One way to generate such a reducing environment is to supply a surplus of carbon that will be oxidized by oxygen to form carbon monoxide (CO), a reducing gas.

EXAMPLE 5

CF.sub.0.75 fibers made from graphitized carbon fibers were exposed to FeCl.sub.3 vapor at 285.degree. C. for 10 hours, nitrogen at 350.degree. C. for 10 hours, and then air at 250.degree. C. for 8 hours. The product was Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 in and on carbon fibers. This product was then placed on a quartz substrate, covered with non-graphitized carbon fibers made from a poly-acrylonitrile (PAN) precursor, then heated to 1100.degree. C. for 1 hour in an environment wherein the oxygen partial pressure was estimated to be between 10.sup.-4 atmospheres and 0.02 atmospheres. The final product was iron in carbon fibers (based upon XRD data), it was attracted to a magnet, and has an iron:carbon ratio of approximately 1:4. In estimating this ratio, the weight of iron in a sample was determined by heating the product in air at 500.degree. C. for 4 days (thereby oxidizing both the carbon and the iron), weighing the resulting oxide as Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, and calculating the iron content as 70% of the oxide.

The intermediate product is heated in an atmosphere having reduced oxygen partial pressure (below 0.02 atmosphere) and at a temperature up to 850.degree. C. This condition is similar to that described in the previous paragraph, except that, when the temperature is significantly higher than 420.degree. C., the carbon oxidation rate begins to become more significant relative to the oxidation rate of the metal halide. Also, under these conditions, some metal halide may be evaporated before its oxidation reaction can occur. But, because of the reduced partial pressure of oxygen, oxidation is at a slower rate and can be less complete, so the metal can be oxidized to a lower oxidation state. Therefore, the oxidation reaction is easier to control. The product in this case is metal oxide or oxides in or on carbon fibers.

Within the specified range for oxygen partial pressure cited here, higher partial pressure will result in less metal halide evaporation, but greater carbon loss.

EXAMPLE 6

CF.sub.0.68 fiber sample was treated with saturated FeCl.sub.3 vapor at 285.degree. C. for 28 hours, then post-heated in nitrogen at 330.degree. C. for 22 minutes. The product was then treated with oxygen at a low partial pressure (between 10.sup.-4 and 0.02 atm.) at 850.degree. C. for 1 hour, producing FeO and Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4, but no Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, in or on carbon fibers (determined by analyzing both XRD and EDS data).

The metal oxides formed in carbon, as described in the previous two examples, can be subsequently reduced to metal or alloy in a reducing environment at higher temperature (i.e., greater than 850.degree. C.). The reduction can be conducted by using carbon monoxide (CO), which may be produced by oxidation of the carbon fibers containing the metal oxides being reduced--if a high metal:carbon ratio is desired--or by oxidation of extra or added carbon, to protect the fibers containing the metal oxides. The latter process was described above, in Example 5 and it appears useful when structural damage to the carbon fibers is undesirable.

Thus, this is a process that provides for the simultaneous reduction of metal oxides and oxidation of carbon. The final product is a metal or metal alloy in carbon fibers. By employing proper control, the reaction can be continued until all of the carbon is oxidized, leaving the metal or metal alloy without the carbon.

EXAMPLE 7

A CF.sub.0.68 fiber sample was treated with saturated FeCl.sub.3 vapor for 28 hours at 285.degree. C., then post-heated in nitrogen for 22 minutes at 330.degree. C. The resulting product was then heated with oxygen at low partial pressure (between 10.sup.-4 atm. to 0.02 atm.). The temperature was gradually increased from room temperature to 800.degree. C. over a period of 3 hours, then raised to 900.degree. C. and held for 3 hours. The final product of this process is metallic iron in or on carbon fibers (determined by analysis of XRD and EDS data). The 900.degree. C., low oxygen environment allowed the carbon fiber to produce CO, which reduced the Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4 to pure iron metal in the carbon fibers.

EXAMPLE 8

A CF.sub.0.68 fiber sample was treated with saturated FeCl.sub.3 vapor for 28 hours at 285.degree. C., then post-heated in nitrogen for 22 minutes at 330.degree. C. The resulting product was then treated with oxygen at low partial pressure (between 10.sup.-4 atm. to 0.02 atm.). The temperature for this reaction was increased from room temperature to 1,200.degree. C. and held for 40 minutes. More than 50% of the resulting fiber product had a shiny white appearance. Analysis revealed the white material to be elemental iron. A photomicrograph of this product is presented in FIG. 2.

What FIG. 2 shows is the chain-like skeleton--strands having through-passages penetrating their thickness--of what appears to be elemental iron that was formed as carbon on which it had been deposited was oxidized away. To be sure, these structures are not made up of closed links as is a chain that might be described as a jointed linked product; rather, the product fibers each have a fixed elongated, porous structure. One would expect such a structure to have a high surface area, per unit weight, which would make it an excellent structure for use as a catalyst for reactions that the metal would catalyze. If a stronger structure were required, the reaction that oxidizes away the carbon could be controlled so the carbon is not totally eliminated.

Immediately after the reaction between CF.sub.x and metal halide(s), the product may be heated in a nitrogen environment to vaporize any metal halide(s) on the surface. This step is, however, optional.

The entire process disclosed herein--or any part thereof--can be performed with additional metal or metal oxides present adjacent to (and in the same environment with) the carbon materials. In this case, the additional metal elements or compounds are transported to the carbon material and form a metal or metal alloy on or in the carbon.

EXAMPLE 9

A sample of CF.sub.0.75 fibers made from graphitized carbon fibers was exposed sequentially to FeCl.sub.3 vapor at 285.degree. C. for 7 hours and nitrogen at 350.degree. C. for 10 hours. It was then placed on a nickel foil and heated to 1100.degree. C. in a reduced-oxygen environment (oxygen partial pressure was at a value between 10.sup.-4 atm. and 0.02 atm.). The final product contains both nickel and a nickel-iron alloy (indicated by XRD and EDS data).

The process to reduce metal oxide(s) to their respective metal can be effected in an inert environment, in which case the oxide is reduced at high temperature by the carbon present.

The carbon host (or substrate) need not be in the form of fibers.

EXAMPLE 10

A samples of a commercially-purchased CF.sub.0.7 powder was treated with FeCl.sub.3 at about 300.degree. C. and then at about 380.degree. C. for 80- and 45 minutes, respectively. The resulting product was then mixed with NiO, placed in a quartz tube and heated to 1200.degree. C. for 45 minutes with oxygen present at a low partial pressure (oxygen partial pressure was at a value between 10.sup.-4 atm. and 0.02 atm.) This process resulted in a mixture of elemental nickel and nickel-iron alloy on carbon powder (determined by analyzing both XRD and EDS data).

In Some cases, the metal halide does not easily react with oxygen; rather, it decomposed directly to metal. However, using the above-disclosed process resulted in the same final product.

EXAMPLE 11

A sample of CF.sub.0.68 fibers was dusted with both CuCl.sub.2 powder and PdCl.sub.2 powder. The sample was then heated to 310.degree. C. for 40 hours and 370.degree. C. for 10 hours. The fibers reacted with both chlorides in an environment of Cl.sub.2 and N.sub.2. The product was rinsed in cold water. XRD data showed the rinsed product to contain palladium. EDS data showed the presence of copper and chlorine atoms, also. Subsequent heating at 1100.degree. C. for 1 hour in oxygen at a partial pressure between 10.sup.-4 atm. and 0.02 atm. produced an end product for which the empirical formula was estimated from EDS data to be C.sub.5 PdCu.sub.0.15 Cl.sub.0.1. XRD data show the diffraction peak very close to the that reported in the literature for elemental palladium, thus indicating the palladium was nearly pure. These data are presented in Table I. The XRD data also show the two highest peaks for Cu.sub.3 Pd.

EXAMPLE 12

Example 11 was repeated, except that only PdCl.sub.2 was used, with no CuCl.sub.2. In this experiment, no reaction between the PdCl.sub.2 and the CF.sub.0.68 could be detected.

TABLE I______________________________________X-Ray Diffraction Peaks for Palladium in Carbon atDifferent Stages of the Reactions Described in Example 11.Immediately after Immediately after Immediately afterreactions to 800.degree. C. heating 1100.degree. C. heating370.degree. C. with in an environment in an environment PurePdCl.sub.2 -CuCl.sub.2 of limited of limited palladiummixture oxygen supply oxygen supply (reference)D I/I.sub.o D I/I.sub.o D I/I.sub.o D I/I.sub.o______________________________________2.242 100 2.196 100 2.223 100 2.246 1001.940 31 1.906 28 36923 1.945 421.371 14 1.349 8 18.362 1.376 25-- -- 6 13161150 1.173 24______________________________________

From the examples herein presented, one can see that a key element in the processes here taught is the production of the first-stage intermediate product that places metal atoms along with halogen atoms within the structure of carbon, usually carbon fibers, but carbon powder has been used. This first-stage intermediate is believed to be key to the subsequent processes that ultimately produce metal oxides of one or more metals either on or in a carbon structure or with the carbon oxidized away or elemental metals either on or in a carbon structure or with the carbon oxidized away. Wherein carbon fibers are the starting material for the graphite fluorides used herein, the end products remain fibrous in basic structure with unusual microstructure including metals and/or their oxides, with or without carbon, and they may have uses now unforeseen. The anticipated uses have been mentioned above. Wherein carbon powder is the starting material for the graphite fluorides used herein, the end products remain powdered in basic structure and likewise has similar unusual microstructure. Such products will find application in areas wherein the unique combination of carbon and metal or metal oxides in intimate contact is needed. They will also be useful in products and processes wherein a metal or metal oxide having a porous particulate structure is desired. Catalysts come immediately to mind, but other uses will likely become obvious to those in search of such materials as are here described.

Claims

1. A carbonaceous material containing crystals of elemental iron and having an iron:carbon ratio of approximately 1:4, which material is attracted to a magnet, and which material is obtained from the following method:

exposing graphite fluoride in the form of CF.sub.0.75 fiber, to FeCl.sub.3 vapors at 285.degree. C., said exposure followed by exposure to nitrogen at a temperature of approximately 350.degree. C., thereby effecting substantially complete defluorination of said graphite fluoride while also permitting said FeCl.sub.3 to enter into and alter the laminar crystal structure typical of said graphite fluoride, thereby resulting in a carbonaceous material appearing to be non-graphitic by X-ray diffraction standards and containing said first iron and chlorine;

exposing said carbonaceous material to air at atmospheric pressure and an elevated temperature 250.degree. C., for sufficient time to remove by oxidation substantially all said halogen but little carbon from said carbonaceous material, resulting in a carbonaceous material containing an oxide of said iron;

then exposing said carbonaceous material containing an oxide of said iron to a chemically reducing carbon monoxide atmosphere generated by admitting oxygen at a partial pressure between 10.sup.-4 atmospheres and 0.02 atmospheres to a reaction vessel holding said carbon material, quartz, and additional carbon in the form of non-graphitized carbon fibers from a PAN precursor and heating said reaction vessel to an elevated temperature of approximately 1100.degree. C. for sufficient time to convert to metal substantially all said iron oxide present, resulting in a carbonaceous fiber product containing elemental iron crystals.

2. A ferromagnetic carbonaceous powder containing elemental nickel and a nickel-iron alloy, which carbonaceous powder is obtained from the following method:

exposing graphite fluoride in the form of CF.sub.0.7 powder first to saturated FeCl.sub.3 vapors in an environment comprising a gas selected from the group consisting of noble gas, chlorine, nitrogen, nitrogen-chlorine mixture, and noble gas-chlorine mixture, at approximately 300.degree. C. for approximately 80 minutes, then exposing the resulting powder to saturated FeCl.sub.3 vapors in a similar gaseous environment at approximately 380.degree. C. for approximately 45 minutes; thereby effecting substantially complete defluorination of said graphite fluoride while also permitting said FeCl.sub.3 to enter into and alter the laminar crystal structure typical of said graphite fluoride, thereby resulting in a carbonaceous material appearing to be non-graphitic by X-ray diffraction standards and containing said iron and said chlorine;

adding, at room temperature, NiO powder to said carbonaceous material to create a carbonaceous mixture;

and then exposing said carbonaceous mixture to oxygen at a partial pressure between 10.sup.-4 atmospheres and 0.02 atmospheres and at a temperature of approximately 1200.degree. C., whereby carbon present in said carbonaceous material is oxidized to carbon monoxide, thus forming a reducing atmosphere adjacent said oxides of iron and nickel to convert to metal substantially all said oxide of said iron and nickel present, resulting in a carbonaceous material containing said iron and nickel in elemental form and whereby said oxidation reaction may consume a significant fraction of said carbon.

3. A carbon fiber material containing palladium metal and Cu.sub.3 Pd which material is produced by the following method:

exposing graphite fluoride in the form of CF.sub.0.68 fiber in an atmosphere of Cl.sub.2 and N.sub.2 to a powder mixture containing CuCl.sub.2 and PdCl.sub.2 at a temperature of 310.degree. C. for a period of approximately 40 hours, then at 370.degree. C. for a period of approximately 10 hours, thereby effecting substantially complete defluorination of said graphite fluoride while also permitting said chlorides to enter into and alter the laminar crystal structure typical of said graphite fluoride, and resulting in a carbonaceous material appearing to be non-graphitic by X-ray diffraction standards and containing said CuCl.sub.2 and PdCl.sub.2 ;

then rinsing in water the said carbonaceous material containing said CuCl.sub.2 and PdCl.sub.2, thus selectively removing some atoms of said metals and some atoms of said chlorine from said carbonaceous material, thereby reducing stress within the crystal structure of said carbonaceous material;

and then exposing the resulting carbonaceous material containing said CuCl.sub.2 and PdCl.sub.2, to oxygen at a partial pressure of between 10.sup.-4 and 0.02 atmospheres and at a temperature of 1100.degree. C. for approximately one hour.