Meso/microporous nitrogen-containing carbon nanofibers with enhanced electrochemical capacitance performances

• Activated carbon nanofibers were synthesized using ZnCl2 as activating agent.
• Activated carbon nanofibers exhibit high nitrogen content.
• Activated carbon nanofibers exhibited enhanced capacitance performances.

Nitrogen-containing activated carbon nanofibers (ACN) have been synthesized by one-step carbonization and simultaneous activation of polypyrrole (Ppy) nanofibers using ZnCl2 as activating agent. The ACN possess meso/microporous structures, high specific surface area (1062.22 m2 g−1), high nitrogen content (8.47 at.%), and low oxygen content (5.25 at.%). As expected, the ACN exhibit enhanced capacitance performances compared with nitrogen-containing carbon nanofibers (CN), such as high specific capacitance (290.2 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1), excellent rate capability (180.5 F g−1 at 50 A g−1), and good cycling stability (97% of capacitance retention after 1000 cycles at 10 A g−1).

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