Production, structural design, functional control, and broad applications of carbon nanofiber-based nanomaterials: A comprehensive review

The tailoring of structure and functions of carbon nanofibers stimulates their potential applications in many fields. • A comprehensive review on the progress of CNFs since 2014 is presented. • Structural adjusting of CNFs through various strategies is summarized. • Functional tailoring of CNFs is introduced and discussed. • Structure and function specific applications of CNF materials are demonstrated. Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) have exhibited wide applications in the fields of materials science, nanotechnology, energy storage, environmental science, biomedicine, and others due to their unique structure, function, and properties. In this review, we present recent advance in the production and applications of various CNF-based nanomaterials. The methods for the production of CNFs are introduced firstly, and then different structures of CNFs related to corresponding synthesis methods are analyzed. In addition, the functional tailoring of CNFs by combining with other nanoscale building blocks such as nanoparticles, quantum dots, carbon materials, biomolecules, and others are demonstrated and discussed. Finally, the potential application of the CNF-based functional nanomaterials in the fields of supercapacitors, chemical batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, environmental adsorbents, sensors, biosensors, tissue engineering, antibacterial materials, electromagnetic interference shielding, and sharp memory materials are introduced and discussed in detail. It is expected this comprehensive review will not only help the readers to obtain the preliminary information on the production, modification, and applications of CNFs, but also promote the design and synthesis of novel CNF-based nanostructures and nanomaterials for advanced applications.