• Carbon letters
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2014

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) with diameters in the submicron and nanometer range exhibit high specific surface area, hierarchically porous structure, flexibility, and super strength which allow them to be used in the electrode materials of energy storage devices, and as hybrid-type filler in carbon fiber reinforced plastics and bone tissue scaffold. Unlike catalytic synthesis and other methods, electrospinning of various polymeric precursors followed by stabilization and carbonization has become a straightforward and convenient way to fabricate continuous CNFs. This paper is a comprehensive and brief review on the latest advances made in the development of electrospun CNFs with major focus on the promising applications accomplished by appropriately regulating the microstructural, mechanical, and electrical properties of as-spun CNFs. Additionally, the article describes the various strategies to make a variety of carbon CNFs for energy conversion and storage, catalysis, sensor, adsorption/separation, and biomedical applications. It is envisioned that electrospun CNFs will be the key materials of green science and technology through close collaborations with carbon fibers and carbon nanotubes.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.243-248
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• 2011

Pt deposited porous carbon nanofibers was prepared as a highly sensitive material of hydrogen gas sensor operating at room temperature. Nanofibers was obtained by electrospinning method using polyacrylonitrile as a carbon precursor and then thermally treated for carbon nanofibers. Chemical activation of carbon nanofibers was carried out to enlarge specific surface area up to $2093m^2/g$. Sputtered Pt layer was uniformly distributed keeping the original shape of carbon nanofibers. The hydrogen gas sensing time and sensitivity were improved based on effects of high specific surface area, micropore structure and deposited Pt catalyst.

• Carbon letters
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2014

Activated carbon nanofibers (ACNF) were prepared from polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based nanofibers using $CO_2$ activation methods with varying activation process times. The surface and structural characteristics of the ACNF were observed by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. $N_2$ adsorption isotherm characteristics at 77 K were confirmed by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller and Dubinin-Radushkevich equations. As experimental results, many holes or cavernous structures were found on the fiber surfaces after the $CO_2$ activation as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy analysis. Specific surface areas and pore volumes of the prepared ACNFs were enhanced within a range of 10 to 30 min of activation times. Performance of the porous PAN-based nanofibers as an electrode for electrical double layer capacitors was evaluated in terms of the activation conditions.

• Carbon letters
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.180-185
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• 2013

In this study, activated carbons nanofibers (ACNFs) were prepared from polyacrylonitrile-based nanofibers by physical ($H_2O$ and $CO_2$) and chemical (KOH) activation. The surface and structural characteristics of the porous carbon were observed by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. Pore characteristics were investigated by $N_2$/77K adsorption isotherms. The specific surface area of the physically ACNFs was increased up to $2400m^2/g$ and the ACNFs were found to be mainly composed of micropore structures. Chemical activation using KOH produced ACNFs with high specific surface area (up to $2500m^2/g$), and the micropores were mainly found in the ACNFs. The physically and chemically ACNFs showed both mainly type I from the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry classification.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 2023

In this study, carbon-coated porous nanofibers were prepared via electrospinning and the performance of Li[Ni_0.93Co_0.07]O₂ (NC) synthesized by electrospinning (E-NC) and co-precipitation (C-NC) was compared. E-NC had a discharge capacity of 206 mAh g^-1 at 0.1C (17 mA/g), which is 10% higher than that of C-NC (189.2 mAh g^-1). E-NC shows a high-rate performance of 118.32 mAh g^-1 (61.7%) at 5C (850 mA/g), which is 50% higher than that of C-NC (78.22 mAh g^-1 = 45.7%). Charge transfer of the carbon-coated porous nanofiber E-NC decreased by 35% compared to C-NC after 20 cycles as observed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results of this study show that the nanofiber structure with carbon coating shortens the Li-ion diffusion path, improves electrical conductivity, resulting in excellent rate performance.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.37-42
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• 2014

Well-distributed ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticles decorated on porous carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were synthesized using an electrospinning method and a reduction method for use in high-performance elctrochemical capacitors. The formation mechanisms including structural, morphological, and chemical bonding properties are demonstrated by means of field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). To investigate the optimum amount of the Ru nanoparticles decorated on the porous CNFs, we controlled three different weight ratios (0 wt%, 20 wt%, and 40 wt%) of the Ru nanoparticles on the porous CNFs. For the case of 20 wt% Ru nanoparticles decorated on the porous CNFs, TEM results indicate that the Ru nanoparticles with ~2-4 nm size are uniformly distributed on the porous CNFs. In addition, 40 wt% Ru nanoparticles decorated on the porous CNFs exhibit agglomerated Ru nanoparticles, which causes low performance of electrodes in electrochemical capacitors. Thus, proper distribution of 20 wt% Ru nanoparticles decorated on the porous CNFs presents superior specific capacitance (~280.5 F/g at 10 mV/s) as compared to the 40 wt% Ru nanoparticles decorated on the porous CNFs and the only porous CNFs. This enhancement can be attributed to the synergistic effects of well-distributed Ru nanoparticles and porous CNF supports having high surface area.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.113-118
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• 2015

To improve the methanol electro-oxidation in direct methanol fuel cells(DMFCs), Pt electrocatalysts embedded on porous carbon nanofibers(CNFs) were synthesized by electrospinning followed by a reduction method. To fabricate the porous CNFs, we prepared three types of porous CNFs using three different amount of a styrene-co-acrylonitrile(SAN) polymer: 0.2 wt%, 0.5 wt%, and 1 wt%, respectively. A SAN polymer, which provides vacant spaces in porous CNFs, was decomposed and burn out during the carbonization. The structure and morphology of the samples were examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy and their surface area were measured using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller(BET). The crystallinities and chemical compositions of the samples were examined using X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties on the methanol electro-oxidation were characterized using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Pt electrocatalysts embedded on porous CNFs containing 0.5 wt% SAN polymer exhibited the improved methanol oxidation and electrocatalytic stability compared to Pt/conventional CNFs and commercial Pt/C(40 wt% Pt on Vulcan carbon, E-TEK).

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.504-512
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• 1999

The high-quality carbon nanofibers were prepared by chemical vapor deposition of gas mixtures of CO-H2 and C3H8-H2 over Fe-Cu and Ni-Cu bimetallic catalysts. The yield and structure of carbon nanofiber produced were altered by the change of catalyst composition and reaction temperature. The high yields were obtained around 500$^{\circ}C$ with e-Cu catalyst and around 700-750$^{\circ}C$ with Ni-Cu catalyst and the relatively higher yields were obtained with the bimetallic catalyst containing 50-90% of Ni and Fe respectively in comparison with the pure metals. The carbon nanofibers produced over the Fe-Cu catalyst at around 500$^{\circ}C$ with the maximum yields had the highest surface ares of 160-200 m2/g around 650$^{\circ}C$ which was slightly lower than the temperature for maximum yields. In order to examine the characteristics of carbon nanofibers as catalyst support Ni and Co metals were supporte on the carbon nanofibers and CO hydrogenation reaction was performed with the catalysts. The particle size distribution of Ni and Co supported over the carbon nanofibers were 6-15 nm and the CO hydrogenation reaction rate with the carbon-nanofiber supported catalysts was much higher than that over the other supports.

• Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
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• v.67
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• pp.448-460
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• 2018

Copper nanoparticle-doped and graphitic carbon nanofibers-covered porous carbon beads were used as an efficient catalyst for treating synthetic phenolic water by catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) in a packed bed reactor over 10-30 bar and $180-230^{\circ}C$, with air and water flowing co-currently. A mathematical model based on reaction kinetics assuming degradation in both heterogeneous and homogeneous phases was developed to predict reduction in chemical oxygen demand (COD) under a continuous operation with recycle. The catalyst and process also showed complete COD reduction (>99%) without leaching of Cu against a high COD (~120,000 mg/L) containing industrial wastewater.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.769-774
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• 2011

Porous carbon nanofibers(CNF) were synthesized via NaOH activation at 700~$900^{\circ}C$, and the porous CNF-supported PtRu catalysts were evaluated for the anode in direct methanol fuel cells. The change of surface characteristics by NaOH activation was examined by analyses of the specific surface area and pore size distribution. The morphological and structural modification was investigated under scanning electron microscopy. The activity of catalysts supported on porous CNFs was examined by cyclic voltammograms and single cell tests. The pore formation on CNF by the NaOH activation was discussed, concerning the catalyst activity, when they were applied as catalyst supports.