Preparation and characterization of polyacrylonitrile-based activated carbon nanofibers/graphene (gACNFs) composite synthesized by electrospinning

Abstract

In this work, activated carbon nanofibers (ACNFs) and graphene-derived rice husk (GRH)/ACNF composites (gACNFs) were straightforwardly fabricated through a simple electrospinning process and were consequently activated by using a physical method. The morphological, structural, and textural properties of the resultant ACNFs and (GRH)/ACNFs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectra, thermal gravimetric analysis, and a N2 adsorption isotherm. From the results obtained, gACNFs exhibit better thermal stability properties than pristine ACNFs with improved carbon yield (up to 60%) as well as enhanced adsorption capacity (220 cm3/g). The results including a high specific surface area (592 m2/g) and availability of 80% micropore volumes have demonstrated that gACNFs exhibited double gas adsorption performance as compared to pristine ACNFs.