Preparation and electrochemical performance of heteroatom-enriched electrospun carbon nanofibers from melamine formaldehyde resin

Melamine formaldehyde resin was used to prepare heteroatom-enriched carbon nanofibers by electrospinning for the first time. The melamine formaldehyde resin-based carbon fibers without any activation treatment showed a moderate specific surface area ranging from 130 to 479 m2/g and rich surface functionalities (2.56–5.34 wt.% nitrogen and 10.39–11.29 wt.% oxygen). Both the specific surface area and surface functionality greatly depended on the carbonization temperature. The capacitive performance was evaluated in 6 M KOH aqueous solution. The electrochemically active surface functionalities played an important role in improving the surface capacitance of the electrodes. The sample carbonized at 600 °C showed the highest specific surface capacitance of 1.4 F/m2, which was attributed to the most active functionalities (10.69 wt.% of N and O). In addition, the sample carbonized at 750 °C exhibited the highest specific capacitance of 206 F/g.

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► Melamine resin was used to prepare electrospun carbon nanofibers for the first time.
► Nitrogen- and oxygen-enriched carbon nanofibers were fabricated successfully.
► The resultant carbon nanofibers showed specific capacitance of 206 F/g and 1.4 F/m2.
► The surface functionalities significantly improved the capacitive performance.