The production of porosity in carbon nanofibers by the catalytic action of Ni nanoparticles in low temperature activation

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) containing Ni nanoparticles were synthesized by carbonization of electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibers containing NiCl2 followed by low-temperature activation (∼325 °C) in an oxygen atmosphere. The surface area of activated CNFs with 0.11 wt.% of the Ni oxide nanoparticles was 654 m2/g with increasing nanopores, which is significantly higher than the value for pure CNFs (30 m2/g). It was confirmed that the addition of trace amounts of Ni nanoparticles effectively produces a porous structure due to their catalytic role, which can increase the specific adsorption capacity of the activated CNFs without structural deformation.