Fabrications and electrochemical properties of two-phase activated carbon nanofibers from electrospinning

Abstract

In this study, two-phase activated carbon nanofibers are fabricated by electrospinning the bicomponent solution of the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and pitch, then oxidatively stabilization, carbonization and/or activation. The use of PAN decreases the solution viscosity, then enhance the spinnability of the polymer blends. In addition, the crystallinity and electrical conductivity of the carbonized carbon fiber increased according to the reduced diameter of as-electrospun fibers. The morphology and electrical properties of two-phase carbon nanofibers were investigated using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), XRD, X-ray photo electron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrochemical measurement.