Electrospun Carbon Nanofibers from Biomass and Biomass Blends—Current Trends

Abstract

In recent years, ecological issues have led to the search for new green materials from biomass as precursors for producing carbon materials (CNFs). Such green materials are more attractive than traditional petroleum-based materials, which are environmentally harmful and non-biodegradable. Biomass could be ideal precursors for nanofibers since they stem from renewable sources and are low-cost. Recently, many authors have focused intensively on nanofibers’ production from biomass using microwave-assisted pyrolysis, hydrothermal treatment, ultrasonication method, but only a few on electrospinning methods. Moreover, still few studies deal with the production of electrospun carbon nanofibers from biomass. This review focuses on the new developments and trends of electrospun carbon nanofibers from biomass and aims to fill this research gap. The review is focusing on recollecting the most recent investigations about the preparation of carbon nanofiber from biomass and biopolymers as precursors using electrospinning as the manufacturing method, and the most important applications, such as energy storage that include fuel cells, electrochemical batteries and supercapacitors, as well as wastewater treatment, CO2 capture, and medicine.

The Possibility of Reuse of Nanofiber Mats by Machine Washing at Different Temperatures

“…In addition, a slight densification of the nanofibers in Figure 4b was observed after the ironing process, presumably because the PAN nanofiber mats contract and shrink in size when exposed to temperature. This effect is well known from previous studies when oxidative stabilization of a nanofiber mat occurs before the carbonization process [45,48,49]. In the non-ironed nanofiber mat (Figure 4a), thicker nanofiber mats can be seen on the surface which are not as visible after the ironing test (Figure 4b).…”

“…The white nanofiber mats change color from white to yellow and dark brown at the oxidative stabilization at 280 • C and become almost black during carbonization at 800 • C [48]. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber mats are usually used as a precursor for carbon nanofiber production [49]. After the ironing process, the nanofiber mat did not change color, probably because the temperature exposure time in the ironing process was too short and the temperature was not high enough.…”

Global View and Trends in Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes for Particulate Matter Filtration: A Review

“…Membranes with homogeneous FD with various morphologies (beaded, wrinkled, and smooth fibers) were obtained with high efficiency 9999% and low pressure drop 61 Pa for PM 2,5 filtration. [ 74 ] Electrospun Carbon Nanofibers from Biomass and Biomass blends have been reported, [ 132 ] it implies new green ESNFMs made from biomass as precursors. It has been explored in applications like CO 2 capture and wastewater treatments, among others, besides carbon fibers are widely used in environmental science, more specifically in adsorption and absorption and liquid or gas for removal of pollutants, [ 132 ] hence, this system could be studied in a future for PM filtration.…”

Magnetic Carbon Nanofiber Mats for Prospective Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) Sensing Applications

“…The nanofiber mats prepared by electrospinning and carbon nanofiber mats are widely used in the fields of filtration, separation, sensors, catalyst support, energy storage, biomedicine, shielding from radiation, etc., [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ]. The application of carbon nanofibers in the field of sensing elements is based on their electronic transport properties, which are modulated by the physical-chemical interaction of the sensing element [ 38 ].…”

“…In our previous study by Döpke et al, PAN/magnetite nanofiber mats were prepared and the magnetic properties were investigated [ 2 ]. Here, networks of magnetic nanofibers with beads that can be used to transport data in the form of domain walls moving along them and combined with objects that could be used to store data and transport [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 …”