Rapid joule-heating activation boosted capacitive performance of carbon fibers. (October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Yixin; Liu, Hu; Li, Shulin; Chen, Pengqi; Jiang, Shudong; Liu, Jiehua; Meng, Fancheng
• Is Part Of: Composites communications. Volume 34(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-10
• Subjects: Joule-heating -- Activation -- Carbon fiber -- Capacitance
• DOI: 10.1016/j.coco.2022.101263
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2452-2139

Abstract

Abstract: The traditional activation methods for carbon fibers (CFs) such as strong acid etching are corrosive, time consuming and heavily polluting. In this paper, we report a fast and environment-friendly method to activate CF by a one-step joule-heating process. With only 10 min treatment, the oxygen content in the fiber surface reaches to 24.6%, and the activated CF with hierarchically porous structure and exfoliated surface layers is obtained. As a fiber electrode, it reveals a specific capacitance of 162 F g −1, which is 125 times of the non-activated CF. Furthermore, the joule-heating activation also facilitates the growth of foreign component on fiber surface and strengthens their interfacial interaction. This work provides a novel approach for the rapid fabrication and functionalization of CF-based devices and composites. Graphical abstract: The immediate joule-heating generated by CF helps to exfoliate the superficial graphite layers, immobilize the free oxygen and consume the carbon skeleton in a rapid mode, rendering the resultant fiber a hierarchically porous surface with a high electrochemically activity. Image 1 Highlights: A novel activation method for carbon fiber is developed featured as fast activation speed and environmental friendliness. The short-time joule-heating activation enhances the specific capacitance of carbon fibers remarkably. Joule heating treatment facilitates the growth of foreign guest on carbon fiber and strengthens the interfacial interaction.