The electrochemical performance of porous carbon nanofibers produced by electrospinning

Porous carbon nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning of mixed solutions of polyvinylalcohol/phenol formaldehyde and polyvinylalcohol/phenol formaldehyde/potassium carbonate, followed by stabilization and carbonization. The microstructure of the samples was studied by SEM and N-2 adsorption/desorption. The electrochemical performance of these porous carbon nanofibers as electrodes of electrical double layer capacitors was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and constant current charge/discharge cycling. Results showed that the BET surface areas of as-prepared porous carbon nanofibers with and without potassium carbonate were 668 and 564 m(2).g(-1), and their specific capacitances were 178 and 165 F.g(-1) at a current density of 0.2 A.g(-1), respectively.