New discovery on the role of graphene nanoplates in enhancing the structural and electrical properties of carbon nanofibers

In this study, carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were successfully manufactured from special polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) copolymer/graphene nanoplates (GNPs) via an electrospinning process after that stabilization and carbonization approaches. The carbonization stage for stabilized SPAN/GNPs nanofibers was applied by heating the samples to 900 degrees C under an N2 inert atmosphere. The relationship of the GNPs concentration with morphological and structural properties of SPAN/GNPs composite nanofibers has been examined. The fineness and crystallinity of composite nanofiber increase with increasing concentration of GNPs from 0 to 4 wt%. With increasing the GNPs concentration in the SPAN/GNPs solutions from 0 to 4 wt%, the average diameter of nanofibers decreased from 480 +/- 78 nm to 174 +/- 18 nm. All CNFs samples synthesized at 900 degrees C have acceptable morphological, structural, and electrical properties. Moreover, the microstructure of the SCNFs can be controlled with GNPs concentration in composite nanofibers. The electrical conductivity of CNFs attained from neat nanofibers is 0.25 x 10+4 S/m, which is increased to 1.37 x 10+4 S/m with 4 wt% GNPs. Therefore, the unique 2D structure of GNPs is very suitable for the development of low-cost and conductive CNFs with low temperatures of carbonization.

Automated summary

In this study, carbon nanofibers were successfully fabricated from a special polyacrylonitrile copolymer/graphene nanoplates composite via electrospinning and subsequent stabilization and carbonization processes. The morphological and structural properties of the composite nanofibers were found to be influenced by the concentration of graphene nanoplates, with higher concentration leading to finer and more crystalline fibers. The addition of graphene nanoplates also significantly improved the electrical conductivity of the carbon nanofibers.