Effect of growth of graphite nanofibers on superhydrophobic and electrochemical properties of carbon fibers

► We fabricated superhydrophobic electrochemical carbon fibers (CFs) with double-scale roughness by the growth of graphite nanofibers (GNFs) on CF surfaces. ► High-density GNFs were synthesized by the chemical decomposition of C2H2 on CF surfaces coated with a Ni-doped mesoporous TiO2 film at lower temperature. ► The growth of GNFs with an average diameter of 40 nm grew uniformly and densely on CF surfaces. ► The contact angle of the CF surfaces increased from 27.2° to 153.5° after growth of GNFs and coating of fluoropolymer. ► The electrochemical properties were carried out using cyclic voltammetry method and galvanostatical charge/discharge techniques and showed that the growth of GNFs on CF surfaces provided the highest specific capacitance.