CARBONLETT, vol. 24, no. 1, pp.36-40, 2017

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/:10.5714/CL.

Improvement of gas sensing properties of carbon nanofibers based on polyacrylonitrile and pitch by steam activation

Jeongsik Kim¹, Hyung-Il Kim^1,♠ and Jumi Yun²

Affiliation: ¹Department of Industrial Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
²Hanwha Chemical Research and Development Center, Daejeon 34128, Korea

Abstract: Polyacrylonitrile/pitch nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning as a precursor for a gas sensor material. Pitch nanofibers were properly fabricated by incorporating polyacrylonitrile as an electrospinning supplement component. Polyacrylonitrile/pitch nanofibers were activated with steam at various temperatures followed by subsequent carbonization to make carbon nanofibers with a highly conductive graphitic structure. Steam activation was effective in facilitating gas adsorption onto the carbon nanofibers due to the increased surface area. The carbon nanofibers activated at 800°C had a larger surface area and a lower micro pore fraction resulting in a higher variation in electrical resistance for improved CO gas sensing properties.

Keyword: carbon nanofibers, pitch, electrospinning, CO sensing, activation