Journal article

Authors list: Einert, M; Wessel, C; Badaczewski, F; Leichtweiß, T; Eufinger, C; Janek, J; Yuan, JY; Antonietti, M; Smarsly, BM

Publication year: 2015

Pages: 1930-1944

Journal: Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics

Volume number: 216

Issue number: 19

ISSN: 1022-1352

eISSN: 1521-3935

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.201500169

Publisher: Wiley

Abstract: 
In this paper, the preparation of nitrogen-doped carbon fibers and thin films from mixtures of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and a poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) by electrospinning and dip-coating is presented, respectively, followed by carbonization at distinct temperatures. The poor processability of the PIL into sub-micrometer fibers by electrospinning-originating from its high charge density and meanwhile low glass transition temperature-is successfully circumvented by using blends of PAN and PIL. The electrospun fiber mats exhibit a high surface-to-volume-ratio with an intrinsically macroporous through-pore structure and a uniform fiber diameter after carbonization. Physicochemical characterization of the N-doped carbons by means of scanning electron microscopy, algorithmic X-Ray diffraction analysis, nitrogen physisorption, thermogravimetry, elemental analysis, energy-dispersive X-ray, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy gives insight into their physical and electrical structures. Impedance measurements on carbonized PIL/PAN-blends reveal high electrical conductivities up to 320 S cm(-1), which are attributed to the incorporation of predominantly quaternary-graphitic nitrogen atoms into the carbon network during carbonization. The results indicate that the electrical conductance of the N-doped carbons strongly depends on the chemical environment of the inserted nitrogen atoms, the microstructural evolution of pi-conjugated carbon network-which in turn correlate with the carbonization temperature-and the chemical composition.

Harvard Citation style: Einert, M., Wessel, C., Badaczewski, F., Leichtweiß, T., Eufinger, C., Janek, J., et al. (2015) Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Electrodes: Influence of Microstructure and Nitrogen Configuration on the Electrical Conductivity of Carbonized Polyacrylonitrile and Poly(ionic liquid) Blends, Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 216(19), pp. 1930-1944. https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.201500169

APA Citation style: Einert, M., Wessel, C., Badaczewski, F., Leichtweiß, T., Eufinger, C., Janek, J., Yuan, J., Antonietti, M., & Smarsly, B. (2015). Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Electrodes: Influence of Microstructure and Nitrogen Configuration on the Electrical Conductivity of Carbonized Polyacrylonitrile and Poly(ionic liquid) Blends. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics. 216(19), 1930-1944. https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.201500169