Synthesis and characterization of porous carbon nanofibers with hollow cores through the thermal treatment of electrospun copolymeric nanofiber webs

The fabrication of a porous carbon in the form of a web consisting of linear nanofibers is achieved through the combination of fiber formation by electro-spinning two stable, immiscible polymer solutions, and thermal treatment at 1000°C in an inert atmosphere. These high-temperature-treated nanofiber webs can be utilized as efficient electromagnetic shielding materials due to their low density and expected high, selective thermal and electrical conductivities along the plane. The air stabilization of electrospun nanofibers, which involves complex chemical reactions, is accompanied by a color change from white to reddish brown. This carbon nanofiber are promising candidates for a wide range of applications in which web morphology and controlled pore structure are significantly required.