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CNTs were grown on iron-modified mesoporous graphitized carbon aerogel (GCA) at 700 °C, 800 °C and 900 °C using catalytic CVD method. Resultant CNT/GCA materials composition, morphology and structure were studied to understand their electrochemical stability and performance for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic medium. CNT growth was increased from 700 °C to 800 °C, dominated by MWCNTs formation. In the temperature range from 800 °C to 900 °C, the growth was reduced by forming nanofiber/nanoribbon structures accompanied by MWCNTs. Mesoporosity of CNT/GCA composites declined at 700 °C and 800 °C due to MWCNT formation. However, CNT/GCA growth at 900 °C improved mesoporosity with substantial increase in pore volume (∼3 times of GCA) due to formation of nanofibers and nanoribbons. The structure of CNT/GCA materials revealed nitrogen doping and dispersion of FeN x phase. A synergistic contribution of CNT/GCA material structure and morphology to ORR activity was noticed. Among CNT/GCA materials, CNT-800 °C/GCA material showed ORR activity at lowest onset potential of 0.5 V. However, CNT-900 °C/GCA exhibits the highest ORR mass activity, with a half-wave onset potential difference of 120 mV with Pt (40 wt.%)/C. Moreover, CNT-900 °C/GCA demonstrates high selectivity (>3.97) to 4 electron ORR path, excellent methanol tolerance and electrochemical durability which makes it a potential DMFC cathode candidate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A newly developed electrospun polyimide nanofiber mat/membrane along with three commercial 0.22µm microfiltration membranes have been investigated for applications within a renewable biorefinery to complete solid–liquid clarification at two locations: (1) following enzymatic hydrolysis (pre-fermentation) and (2) post-ethanol fermentation. Performance was assessed by evaluating process flux, reversible and irreversible fouling, and the ability to completely remove insoluble solids. Lignin (the primary insoluble solid following enzymatic hydrolysis of a biomass feedstock), yeast cells, and cell debris (following fermentation to ethanol), along with soluble phenolic compounds, all being very hydrophobic in nature, caused extensive fouling, which led to permanent irreversible flux decline for the three commercial membranes. In addition, all three commercial membranes showed a small amount of insoluble solids in the permeate, indicating incomplete removal of the insoluble solids. In contrast, the polyimide nanofiber membrane showed virtually no irreversible fouling and complete retention of insoluble solids, suggesting the tremendous potential for biorefinery applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Electrospun carbon nanofiber mats were prepared from a natural product of lignin. [•] The freestanding mats were flexible with BET specific surface area of ∼583 m2/g. [•] The mats were surface-deposited with Ag nanoparticles via the scCO2 method. [•] Novel electrocatalytic systems of Ag/ECNFs exhibited high activities towards ORR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) copolymer nanofibers with diameters of ∼0.3 μm were prepared as highly aligned bundles. The as-electrospun nanofiber bundles were then stretched in steam at ∼100 °C into 2, 3, and 4 times of the original lengths. Subsequently, characterizations and evaluations were carried out to understand morphological, structural, and mechanical properties using SEM, 2D WAXD, polarized FT−IR, DSC, and mechanical tester; and the results were compared to those of conventional PAN copolymer microfibers. The study revealed that: (1) the macromolecules in as-electrospun nanofibers were loosely oriented along fiber axes; although such an orientation was not high, a small extent of stretching could effectively improve the orientation and increase the crystallinity; (2) most of macromolecules in the crystalline phase of as-electrospun and stretched nanofibers possessed the zig-zag conformation instead of the helical conformation; and (3) the post-spinning stretching process could substantially improve mechanical properties of the nanofiber bundles. To the best of our knowledge, this study represented the first successful attempt to stretch electrospun nanofibers; and we envisioned that the highly aligned and stretched electrospun PAN copolymer nanofibers could be an innovative type of precursor for the development of continuous nano-scale carbon fibers with superior mechanical strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Carbon nanofibers with diameters of 200–300nm were developed through stabilization and carbonization of aligned electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber bundles. Prior to the oxidative stabilization in air, the electrospun PAN nanofiber bundle was tightly wrapped onto a glass rod, so that tension existed during the stabilization. We also investigated several carbonization procedures by varying final carbonization temperatures in the range from 1000 to 2200°C. The study revealed that: (1) with increase of the final carbonization temperature, the carbon nanofibers became more graphitic and structurally ordered; (2) the carbon nanofiber bundles possessed anisotropic electrical conductivities, and the differences between the parallel and perpendicular directions to the bundle axes were over 20 times; and (3) the tensile strengths and Young''s moduli of the prepared carbon nanofiber bundles were in the ranges of 300–600MPa and 40–60GPa, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Graphitic carbon nanofibers (GCNFs) with diameters of approximately 300 nm were developed using bundles of aligned electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers containing phosphoric acid (PA) as the innovative precursors through thermal treatments of stabilization, carbonization, and graphitization. The morphological, structural, and mechanical properties of GCNFs were systematically characterized and/or evaluated. The GCNFs made from the electrospun PAN precursor nanofibers containing 1.5 wt.% of PA exhibited mechanical strength that was 62.3% higher than that of the GCNFs made from the precursor nanofibers without PA. The molecules of PA in the electrospun PAN precursor nanofibers initiated the cyclization and induced the aromatization during stabilization, as indicated by the FT-IR and TGA results. The stabilized PAN nanofibers possessed regularly oriented ladder structures, which facilitated the further formation of ordered graphitic structures in GCNFs during carbonization and graphitization, as indicated by the TEM, XRD, and Raman results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A series of high molecular weight PI precursors, poly(p-phenylene biphenyltetracarboxamide acid), were synthesized from 3,4,3′,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) and p-phenylenediamine (PDA) by using intense mechanical stirring at −15 to 0°C for 48–72h. The as-synthesized PI precursor solution was used to make BPDA/PDA polyimide thin films and electrospun nanofibers. IR, Ostward Viscometer, CMT-8102 Electromechanical Universal Testing Machine and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used for the characterizations of the as-synthesized PI precursor, PI films and nanofiber sheets. The high molecular weight BPDA/PDA PI thin films and electrospun nanofiber sheets possess excellent mechanical properties of up to 900MPa tensile strength with up to 18.0GPa E-modulus and up to 210MPa tensile strength with up to 2.5GPa E-modulus, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]