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).

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide