N-Doped carbon nanoparticles on highly porous carbon nanofiber electrodes for sodium ion batteries.

Nitrogen doped carbon nanoparticles on highly porous carbon nanofiber electrodes were successfully synthesized combining centrifugal spinning, chemical polymerization of pyrrole and a two-step heat treatment. Nanoparticle-on-nanofiber morphology with highly porous carbon nanotube like channels were observed from SEM and TEM images. Nitrogen doped carbon nanoparticles on highly porous carbon nanofiber (N-PCNF) electrodes exhibited excellent cycling and C-rate performance with a high reversible capacity of around 280 mA h g in sodium ion batteries.

Thermoplastic Elastomer Systems Containing Carbon Nanofibers as Soft Piezoresistive Sensors.

Soft, wearable or printable strain sensors derived from conductive polymer nanocomposites (CPNs) are becoming increasingly ubiquitous in personal-care applications. Common elastomers employed in the fabrication of such piezoresistive CPNs frequently rely on chemically cross-linked polydiene or polysiloxane chemistry, thereby generating relatively inexpensive and reliable sensors that become solid waste upon application termination. Moreover, the shape anisotropy of the incorporated conductive nanoparticles can produce interesting electrical effects due to strain-induced spatial rearrangement.

α-Fe2O3 nanoparticle-loaded carbon nanofibers as stable and high-capacity anodes for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.

α-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticle-loaded carbon nanofiber composites were fabricated via electrospinning FeCl(3)·6H(2)O salt-polyacrylonitrile precursors in N,N-dimethylformamide solvent and the subsequent carbonization in inert gas. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and elemental analysis were used to study the morphology and composition of α-Fe(2)O(3)-carbon nanofiber composites. It was indicated that α-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles with an average size of about 20 nm have a homogeneous dispersion along the carbon nanofiber surface.

Carbon nanotube-loaded electrospun LiFePO4/carbon composite nanofibers as stable and binder-free cathodes for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.

LiFePO(4)/CNT/C composite nanofibers were synthesized by using a combination of electrospinning and sol-gel techniques. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was used as the electrospinning media and carbon source. Functionalized CNTs were used to increase the conductivity of the composite.

Electrospun carbon-tin oxide composite nanofibers for use as lithium ion battery anodes.

Composite carbon-tin oxide (C-SnO(2)) nanofibers are prepared by two methods and evaluated as anodes in lithium-ion battery half cells. Such an approach complements the long cycle life of carbon with the high lithium storage capacity of tin oxide. In addition, the high surface-to-volume ratio of the nanofibers improves the accessibility for lithium intercalation as compared to graphite-based anodes, while eliminating the need for binders or conductive additives.