High-performance supercapacitors based on electrospun multichannel carbon nanofibers

Abstract

Multichannel carbon nanofibers (MCNFs) have been fabricated by annealing electrospun PAN/PS immiscible polymer nanofibers. The obtained mechanically flexible mats of MCNFs, possessing an integrative architecture, are used as an electrode directly with no binder and without any activation processes. Owing to the binder-free characteristic, unique multichannel structure and high specific surface area, the MCNFs show high capacitance (270 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.5 A g⁻¹), perfect cycling stability (the capacitance does not decrease after 5000 cycles at a current density of 1 A g⁻¹), excellent rate capability (89% retention at a current density of 20 A g⁻¹) and high energy and power density. These results demonstrate that the electrode material has a promising prospect in applications of energy storage.