The production of porous carbon nanofibers from cross-linked polyphosphazene nanofibers

Uniform porous carbon nanofibers with an average diameter of 90 nm were fabricated by forming polyphosphazene nanofibers and carbonizing them, without the need for any activation step. The structure and morphology of the carbon nanofibers were characterized by SEM, TEM, EDX, XRD, Raman spectrum and N2 adsorption. Results showed that the carbon nanofibers have a BET surface area of about 540 m2 g−1, a total pore volume of about 0.37 m3 g−1, and a narrow pore size distribution in the micropore range.