Preparation of polyacrylonitrile based carbon nanofibers by electrospinning with different additives from direct coal liquefaction residue

Abstract

Direct coal liquefaction residue is of valuable materials for preparation of carbon materials due to its high carbon content and aromatic structures. In this work, extract, extraction residue, and oxidized extraction residue from direct coal liquefaction residue were employed as additives for preparation of polyacrylonitrile based carbon nanofibers by electrospinning, followed by air stabilization and carbonization processes. The results show that the additives were evenly dispersed in the carbon nanofibers, and the diameters of nanofibers were smaller than that pure polyacrylonitrile based carbon nanofibers. After the extraction residue was pretreated with hydrogen peroxide, the morphology of nanofibers became more smooth and uniform.