THE FORMATION OF SILICA NANOPARTICLES ON THE POLYARYLONITRILE-BASED CARBON NANOFIBERS BY GRAPHENE VIA ELECTROSPINNING

摘要

Recently, hybrid materials based on carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and silica nanoparticles have attracted significant scientific interest because of their remarkable properties, which cannot be obtained from the individual components [1-2]. Many research groups have been working on fabricating silica/CNF composites, which combine the advantages of both CNFs (nanoscale size, high specific surface area, and electrical conductivity) and silica nanoparticles (high strength, excellent heat stability, and good oxidation resistance) [3-4]. Nanoparticles formed on carbon materials are an important potential application for catalysis and the introduction of unique functions on the CNF surface because controlled nucleation and growth affords optimal chemical interactions and bonding, leading to very strong electrical and mechanical coupling within the hybrid [5-6]. Electrospinning is a unique method for producing the organic/inorganic hybrid composite nanofibers that uses a high voltage and a composite solution consisting of a metal precursor and a polymer solution [7]. In this work, we describe directly grown silica nanoparticles on graphene/polycarylonitrile (PAN)-based CNF composites produced by electrospinning of graphene/PAN solution containing tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). The structures and physical properties of these silica nanoparticles loaded on CNF composites were analyzed. Here, graphene is used as an ideal substrate for growing and anchoring functional nanomaterials for electrochemical devices or catalysts.