Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) synthesized through the electrospinning of Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymer have emerged as a significant class of nanomaterials, obtaining considerable attention in advanced materials research. The electrospinning technique allows for the precise engineering of nanofiber structures, offering a pathway to tailor properties such as high surface area, mechanical strength, and electrical conductivity. PAN-fibers are spun through electrospinning technique into PAN nanofiber fleeces and then converted to CNFs through stabilization process in presence of air followed by carbonization at higher temperatures under a continuous flow of nitrogen gas.
The resulting CNFs exhibit high specific surface area, excellent conductivity, and robust mechanical strength. Furthermore, modifying these CNFs, such as integrating sacrificial polymers into the spinning solution to increase specific surface area or directly embedding nanoparticles to enhance conductivity, is easily facilitated. These properties render CNFs well suited for use in energy storage and conversion technologies. Specifically, this work discusses the applications of CNFs in supercapacitors, lithium-sulfur batteries, and fuel cells.
In supercapacitors, CNFs serve as efficient electrode materials, enabling high energy densities and rapid charge-discharge cycles due to their large surface area and fast electron conductivity. Within lithium-sulfur batteries, CNFs enhance the structural integrity of electrodes, ensuring stable performance across multiple charge-discharge cycles. Lastly, in fuel cells, CNFs exhibit high catalytic activity and electrical conductivity, culminating in enhanced energy efficiency and performance.
The presented production method and remarkable properties of PAN based CNFs open promising avenues for the development of advanced materials for various energy related applications.