Submicron Catalyst Carbon Fibres by Electrospinning

Electrospinning can be used to prepare submicron polymeric or composite fibres. Such fibres can be as precursors and subsequently pyrolysed into carbon fibres. We applied two methods to form electrospun carbon fibres containing platinum catalyst particles. Firstly, electrospun fibres containing platinum catalyst were prepared by dispersing nanosized platinum particles into polymer solution prior to electrospinning and composite fibres were subsequently stabilized and carbonized to form carbon fibres. Secondly, electrospun fibres were prepared from polymeric polyacrylonitrile (PAN) solution, converted into carbon fibres and finally coated with platinum nanoparticles using Liquid Flame Spray (LFS) process