The Effects of Different Carbonization Temperatures on the Properties of Electrospun Carbon Nanofibre from Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) Precursor

Nurain Abdul Munajat; Abdul Hamid Nurfaizey; Mohd Haizal Mohd Husin; Siti Hajar Sheikh Md. Fadzullah; Ghazali Omar; Mohd Azli Salim

Authors

Nurain Abdul Munajat Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia
Abdul Hamid Nurfaizey Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia
Mohd Haizal Mohd Husin Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia
Siti Hajar Sheikh Md. Fadzullah Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia
Ghazali Omar Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia
Mohd Azli Salim Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia

Keywords:

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) , precursor, electrical properties , carbonization

Abstract

Carbon nanofibres produced from carbonization of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor have been given much attention due to their superior properties. However, there is limited information available on the effects of carbonization temperature on the properties of the carbon nanofibres. This study investigates the effects of different carbonization temperature on physical, chemical and electrical properties of the carbon nanofibres. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor nanofibres were prepared using electrospinning technique. The characterization of the electrospun carbon nanofibre was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Image J software, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and four-point probe methods. The results suggest that by increasing the carbonization temperature, thinner carbon fibres were produced due to the extended elimination of other functional groups. This is evidenced by flatter FTIR curves produced by samples with higher carbonization temperatures. In addition, the electrical conductivity improved by increasing carbonization temperature. The results presented in this study would provide useful information for the development of new conductive nano materials.