Effects of carbonization temperature on pore development in polyacrylonitrile-based activated carbon nanofibers

In this work, activated carbon nanofiber (ACNF) electrodes with high double-layer capacitance and good rate capability were prepared from polyacrylonitrile nanofibers by optimizing the carbonization temperature prior to $H_2O$ activation. The morphology of the ACNFs was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The elemental composition was determined by analysis of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. $N_2$-adsorption-isotherm characteristics at 77 K were confirmed by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller and Dubinin-Radushkevich equations. ACNFs processed at different carbonization temperatures were applied as electrodes for electrical double-layer capacitors. The experimental results showed that the surface morphology of the CNFs was not significantly changed after the carbonization process, although their diameters gradually decreased with increasing carbonization temperature. It was found that the carbon content in the CNFs could easily be tailored by controlling the carbonization temperature. The specific capacitance of the prepared ACNFs was enhanced by increasing the carbonization temperature.