Y-shaped carbon nanofibers as a multi-branched carbon nanostructure have potential applications in electronic devices. In this article, we report that several types of Y-shaped carbon nanofibers are obtained from ethanol flames. These Y-shaped carbon nanofibers have different morphologies. According to our experimental results, the growth mechanism of Y-shaped carbon nanofibers has been discuss...

Chitosan based nanofibers containing carbon nanotubes were applied on AZ31 magnesium alloy via electrospinning. The magnesium substrate was initially anodized in a NaOH solution in order to improve the adhesion between the coating and substrate. Electrospinning parameters were optimized and homogenous nanofibers composite coatings were produced. Addition of carbon nanotubes reduced the size of ...

Two polymer solutions of polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and Ni(CH3COOH)2 in dimethylformamide were electrospun into ternary composite nanofibers, followed by stabilization and carbonization processes to obtain porous carbon/nickel composite nanofibers with diameters of 100-200 nm. The study revealed that carbon/nickel composite nanofibers were successfully prepared, which allowed nic...

We describe recent experiments aimed at using carbon nanofibers for biosensing applications. Vertically aligned carbon nanofibers are grown on molybdenum electrodes to provide electrical contact to the nanofibers. Upon exposure to electrolyte solutions, we find that short nanofibers of <1 Am length can be wet and dried without significant mechanical disruption. However, longer fibers are prone ...

Porous carbon/cobalt (C/Co) composite nanofibers with diameters of 200-300 nm were prepared by electrospinning and subsequent carbonization processes. Two polymer solutions of polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), and Co (CH3COOH) 2 (Co (OAc) 2) were used as C/Co composite nanofiber precursors. The study revealed that C/Co composite nanofibers were successfully prepared and coba...

Hollow carbon nanofibers (HCNFs) were prepared by electrospinning method with several coaxial nozzles, in which the level of the inner nozzle-end is adjustable. Core/shell nanofibers were prepared from poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a pyrolytic core and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as a carbon shell with three types of normal (viz. inner and outer nozzle-ends are balanced in the same level), in...

We demonstrate a simple, efficient and novel self-assembly based method to fabricate arrays of suspended polymeric nanofibers of polyacrylonitrile and SU-8 negative photoresist by electrospinning on micro-fabricated posts of resorcinol–formaldehyde (RF) gel. The suspended electrospun nanofibers together with the RF gel posts were subsequently pyrolyzed in an inert atmosphere to yield large area...

This research demonstrates a simple method for synthesizing titanium dioxide nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanofibers. These nanofibers showed highly efficient degradation of methylene blue under UV light because of the synergistic effects of the large surface-active sites of titanium dioxide nanoparticles and the carbon nanofibers on the photocatalytic properties.

Based on magnetic-field-assisted growth of carbon nanofibers in an open ethanol flame we fabricated arrays of carbon nanofibers with different degrees of orientation. Inspired by the dry adhesive system of geckos we investigated the adhesive properties of such carbon nanofiber arrays with ordered and random orientation. AFM-based force spectroscopy revealed that adhesion force and energy rise l...

Porous carbon materials are used for many electrochemical applications due to their outstanding properties. However, research on controlling the pore structure and analyzing the carbon structures is still necessary to achieve enhanced electrochemical properties. In this study, mesoporous carbon nanotube (CNT)-carbon nanofiber electrodes were developed by heat-treatment of electrospun starch wit...