Hybrid Carbon Silica Nanofibers through Sol–Gel
Electrospinning
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Abstract
A controlled sol–gel synthesis
incorporated with electrospinning
is employed to produce polyacrylonitrile–silica (PAN–silica)
fibers. Hybrid fibers are obtained with varying amounts of silica
precursor (TEOS in DMF catalyzed by HCl) and PAN. Solution viscosity,
conductivity, and surface tension are found to relate strongly to
the electrospinnability of PAN–silica solutions. TGA and DSC
analyses of the hybrids indicate strong intermolecular interactions,
possibly between the −OH group of silica and −CN of
PAN. Thermal stabilization of the hybrids at 280 °C followed
by carbonization at 800 °C transforms fibers to carbon–silica
hybrid nanofibers with smooth morphology and diameter ranging from
400 to 700 nm. FTIR analysis of the fibers confirms the presence of
silica in the as-spun as well as the carbonized material, where the
extent of carbonization is also estimated by confirming the presence
of −CC and −CO peaks in the carbonized
hybrids. The graphitic character of the carbon–silica fibers
is confirmed through Raman studies, and the role of silica in the
disorder of the carbon structure is discussed