Carbon nanofibers

Abstract

Carbon nanofibers are sp2-based linear, noncontinuous filaments that are different from carbon fibers, which are continuous with diameter of several micrometers. This chapter provides a review on the growth, structural properties, and practical applications of carbon nanofibers as compared with those of conventional carbon fibers. Carbon nanofibers can be produced via catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chemical vapor deposition (CVD) as well as the combination of electrospinning of organic polymer and thermal treatment. The amount of commercially available carbon nanofiber worldwide is ca. 500?t/year. Carbon nanofibers exhibit high specific area, flexibility, and superstrength due to their nanosized diameter, which allows them to be used in electrode materials of energy storage devices, hybrid-type filler in carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, and bone tissue scaffold. It is envisaged that carbon nanofibers will be key materials of green science and technology through a close combination with carbon fibers and carbon nanotubes.