Development of structurally stable electrospun carbon nanofibers from polyvinyl alcohol

Abstract

Continuous carbon nanofibers are of great interest in research nowadays due to their outstanding properties. But synthesis of cost effective, stable and straight carbon nanofibers from low cost polymeric precursor is still a challenge. In this direction, in the present study efforts are made to prepare stable and straight carbon nanofibers from low cost polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The PVA nanofibers are drawn by electrospinning technique from the solution of PVA and stabilization of nanofibers was carried out in the presence of iodine vapors for different time interval with applying the load. The stabilized nanofibers were carbonized at 1000 °C and semi-graphitized at 2200 °C. The resultant nanofibers were characterized by analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The microscopic study reveals that there is not much difference in stabilized, carbonized and semi graphitized nanofiber diameter, derived from PVA nanofiber stabilized with the application of load. The XRD and TEM study reveals the presence of amorphous as well as crystalline phases in semi graphitized nanofibers with different interlayer spacing. The higher value of electrical conductivity obtained as a consequence of alignment of carbon layer in the case of nanofiber stabilized with applying load and further increases in conductivity due to crystallinity and decreases in sp3 content.