The thermal stabilization and carbonization behavior of polyacrylonitrile nanofibers made by electrospinning

Continuous and long polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers in the form of a non-woven fabric were made by electrospinning by using homo-PAN dissolved in dimethylformamide. The nanofibers were thermally stabilized and carbonized under several conditions and carbon nanofibers were obtained. Thermal stabilization of the PAN nanofibers was completed in ten minutes. The structural density of the thermally stabilized nanofibers depended on the stabilization conditions, and was an indication of their small size.