Nitrogen doped carbon nanofiber derived from polypyrrole functionalized polyacrylonitrile for applications in lithium-ion batteries and oxygen reduction reaction.

Nitrogen doped carbon nanofiber films (NCNFs) is successfully synthesized via the carbonization of polypyrrole (PPY) functionalized electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers. Benefitting from the nitrogen-doped one-dimensional (1D) nanostructure, the as-obtained NCNFs show multifunctional applications as electrode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) and catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). For LIB application, the obtained NCNFs could be directly used as flexible, free-standing and binder-free electrode, which exhibits high specific capacity up to 698.9mAhg (higher than that of carbon nanofiber derived from PAN), long life over 160 cycles, and good rate capability (148.8mAhg at 2Ag). In addition, a preliminary ORR catalytic activity study has demonstrated that the NCNFs exhibit good catalytic activity. Therefore, these properties endorse NCNFs as auspicious candidates for both LIBs and ORR.