Synthesis of centrifugally spun polyacrylonitrile-carbon fibers

This work demonstrates the carbonization of centrifugally spun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers. Initially, the optimal centrifugal spinning conditions for producing homogeneous PAN fibers were identified. Second, the process continued by stabilization and carbonization of PAN to ensure a pure carbonaceous fiber material by eliminating all non-carbonaceous matter. The spun PAN fibers were stabilized at 240 °C in air at a heating rate of 1 °C/min, then carbonized between 600 and 1200 °C in argon at 5 °C/min. After carbonization, the fibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy (RS). The SEM results showed that by increasing the carbonization temperature, the prolonged elimination of other functional groups resulted in the formation of thinner carbon fibers. FTIR spectra of PAN fibers revealed that the peaks associated with C≡N bonds were substantially reduced and C–H bonds were eliminated in the fibers during the stabilization. These reductions are attributed to the cyclization of nitrile groups and the stabilizing process, and increasing carbonization temperatures resulted in flatter FTIR curves, supporting the findings. According to XRD, the structure of PAN was disturbed, as desired, and carbonization led to the formation of broad bumps resulting from amorphous carbon. Raman investigations found that increasing the carbonization temperature from 600 to 1200 °C resulted in no significant R values, suggesting that all fibers had no structural ordering. The study results could be used in many other areas, such as the fabrication of electrodes, supporting catalytic reactions, filter media, and energy.