Effect of embedding MgO and Al2O3 nanoparticles in the precursor on the pore characteristics of PAN based activated carbon nanofibers

This study has investigated the effect of embedding MgO and Al2O3 nanoparticles in the precursor, on pore characteristics of resulting polyacrylonitrile based activated carbon nanofibers (ACNFs). The results showed that increasing the amount of the metal oxide nanoparticles embedded in the precursor, increases the quantity of adsorbed nitrogen, the specific surface area, the total pore volume and the micropore volume of the ACNFs. Moreover, higher specific surface area of metal oxide nanoparticles with smaller size, leads to a more pronounced effect which is related to the higher accessibility of low-coordinated metal atoms in them. It was also observed that MgO Plus nanoparticles with specific surface area of 600 m2/g show a higher effect than Al2O3 Plus nanoparticles (550 m2/g). Moreover, the mesopore proportion of ACNFs decreases as a result of the presence of metal oxide nanoparticles in the precursor.

► Metal oxide nanoparticles lead to high surface of activated carbon nanofibers.
► MgO Plus has higher catalytic activity than Al2O3 Plus nanoparticles.
► MgO Plus leads to higher surface than Al2O3 Plus nanoparticles.