Fabrication of carbon nanofiber based on polyacrylonitrile by electrospinning

Fibers of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) were fabricated by means of electrospinning.The morphology of the PAN fibers was investigated with Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM).The effects of electrospinning technology parameters on the diameter and morphology of the PAN fibers were discussed in detail.It was found that the diameter of the fiber increased with increasing solution concentration and with decreasing electrospinning voltage, but the distance from tip to target and solvent type had little effect on fiber diameter.The fibers that had the best morphology were calcined at 240℃ in air and then calcined in nitrogen at a higher temperature.The changes of diameter and morphology of the fiber were also observed by means of FESEM.The chemical structure of the fibers was analyzed by IR, and it was confirmed that the fibers calcined at 900℃ were carbon nanofiber.