Preparation of macroporous carbon nanofibers with macroscopic openings in the surfaces and their applications

摘要

Macroporous carbon nanofibers with mesoscale surface openings were produced byelectrospinning. During the electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) solution includingcrosslinked polymer colloids, the polymer colloids were concentrated in the center of PANfibers. Carbonization left interconnected spherical pores inside the carbon fibers and mesoscaleopenings in the fiber surfaces. The existence of surface openings facilitated inward diffusion ofvarious solvent molecules, nanoparticles, and large molecules such as proteins. The porousfibers could be dispersed in both hydrophilic and hydrophobic solvents and materials, whichenabled production of polymer composites in which the fibers and polymers wereinterpenetrating through the pores. Silica coating on the macroporous carbon fibers enriched thesurface chemistry to effectively immobilize proteins helped by easy diffusion through surfaceopenings.