Fabrication of carbon fibers from electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofibers

Abstract

Carbon fibers were fabricated from electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers. Electrospun PVA nanofibers were treated with iodine vapor for different periods, subsequently carbonized at different temperatures, and the structural changes of the PVA nanofibers were analyzed. The nanofibers iodinated at 80 °C for 24 h led to a good carbon yield of 21% when carbonized at 1200 °C. The influence of metal nanoparticle on the fabrication of carbon fiber and its properties was also investigated by the addition of a metal salt, nickel(II) acetate tetrahydrate [(CH3COO)2 Ni·4H2O], to the PVA spinning solution. Noticeably, after incorporation of nickel (Ni) nanoparticle continuous electrospinning was realized at lower polymer concentration than that of neat PVA. Moreover, smaller fiber diameter and a higher carbon yield (~34%) were obtained after carbonization. Transmission electron microscopy observation of the carbon fibers revealed that the addition of Ni-nanoparticles accelerated the formation of a graphitic structure at a lower carbonization temperature of 1200 °C.