La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 catalyst decorated polyacrylonitrile nanofiber effects on electrospinning for carbon nanofiber formation
摘要
This work presents the preparation of metal oxide catalyst decorated carbon nanofibers (CNF@LSMO) by electrospinning process, with high conductivity and controlled hydrophilicity. It examines the impact of dispersing La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO) within polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers during the solid–liquid electrospinning synthesis process and its carbon nanofiber formation. Nanofibers were synthesized from a dimethylformamide (DMF) solution at PAN concentration of 6%w/vol (PAN/DMF), in which perovskite concentration was gradually increased from 20 to 70%w/w (LSMO/PAN). Electrospinning process and calcination lead to LSMO nanoparticles dispersed in the conducting carbon nanofibers (CNF@LSMO). SEM analysis revealed that the presence of LSMO decreases the fiber diameter as compared to the pure PAN fibers, but their diameter is independent of the LSMO amount. Moreover, LSMO nanoparticles were exposed on the surface of the carbon nanofibers (CNF), which is desirable for an application as electrode material. Hydrophilicity of CNF@LSMO nanofibers could be improved by increasing the carbonization temperature from 800 to 900 °C, which is desirable for an electrode architecture with hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties. A high constant electrical conductivity of 0.04 S cm−1 was obtained on the LSMO decorated carbon nanofibers, making them suitable for a possible catalyst application for oxygen reduction reaction in metal-air batteries and fuel cells.
Graphical Abstract