Highly porous carbon nanofibers from electrospun polyimide/SiO2 hybrids as an improved anode for lithium-ion batteries

Highly porous carbon nanofibers (PCNFs) were prepared by electrospining polyimide and sacrificial SiO2 nanoparticles, along with the subsequent carbonization and post-etching. The PCNFs exhibited interconnected nanofibrous morphology with large specific surface area (950 m2 g− 1) and well-developed microporous structure. The electrochemical performance measurements indicated that the PCNFs as self-standing anodes of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) showed outstanding lithium-ion storage capacity (730 mAh g− 1), good cycling stability and superior rate capability. These intriguing characteristics make the PCNFs materials as promising anode candidates for high-performance LIBs.