Abstract
AbstractCarbon nanofibers (CNFs) fabricated through traditional methods are generally composed of amorphous carbon and graphite sheets, which usually endow CNFs with high modulus and brittleness. Here, a strategy of controlling graphite sheet structures in CNFs for the scalable fabrication of silk‐like flexible CNF films that can be arbitrarily folded in any shape and can undergo thousands of dynamic bending deformation cycles is reported. In detail, the carbon precursor of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is first electrospun into NFs and then by controlling the pre‐oxidation reaction and carbonization process to design CNFs with different graphitization degrees, flexible CNF films with tunable mechanical properties from the traditional bending resilience flexibility to truly foldable flexibility can be fabricated. Meanwhile, a correlation mechanism between microstructure and the foldable flexibility of CNFs is proposed. Importantly, it is found that manipulating the pre‐oxidation temperatures of precursor PAN NFs can effectively reduce the structural stiffness of CNFs due to the appropriate number of graphene sheets. This study provides a theoretical basis for designing truly foldable CNF films for multiple applications.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
