Electrospinning with Natural Rubber and Ni Doping for Carbon Dioxide Adsorption and Supercapacitor Applications

Abstract

Three distinctive morphologies of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) on the surface were successfully fabricated by the electrospinning technique. The polymeric precursor was prepared by dissolving polyacrylonitrile (PAN), natural rubber (NR) cup lump, and nickel-pyridine complex in a single solution. The PAN-based polymeric solution, doped with various amounts of Ni, NR, and NR-Ni, was electrospun to create polymeric fibers and then stabilized and carbonized to obtain PAN composite nanofibers. Smooth surfaces were found on all NR-doped and Ni (5 wt%)-doped CNFs. Pores and spots on the CNFs’ surface occurred on Ni-doped CNFs at 10 and 15 wt%, respectively. Interestingly, carbon nanotube (CNT) growth on the CNF surface was found in NR-10Ni@CNF samples. Depending on the preparation technique, Ni0 nanoparticles also formed in CNFs, with a small size (25 nm) promoting CNT formation and a large size (200-400 nm) creating pores on the CNF surface. CNT growth on the carbon fiber surface was successfully achieved using trace amounts of NR with Ni samples. Based on the results of CO2 adsorption and electrochemical performance, the 1NR-10Ni@CNF electrode exhibited a specific capacitance that was twice as high as the PAN electrode. Additionally, the 5Ni@CNF demonstrated CO2 adsorption that was 4.0 times greater at 273 K and 2.9 times greater at 298 K.