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Furan and Pyran Functional Groups Driven the Surface of Nitrogen‐Doped Nanofiber Sponges
Author(s) -
FajardoDíaz M.Sc. Juan L.,
RodríguezCorvera M.Sc. Cristina L.,
MuñozSandoval Ph.D. Emilio,
LópezUrías Ph.D. Florentino
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
chemnanomat
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.947
H-Index - 32
ISSN - 2199-692X
DOI - 10.1002/cnma.201900729
Subject(s) - x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , surface modification , materials science , carbon nanotube , carbon nanofiber , chemical vapor deposition , cyclic voltammetry , redox , chemical engineering , inorganic chemistry , electrochemistry , photochemistry , chemistry , nanotechnology , electrode , engineering
Highly surface oxidized, nitrogen‐doped, and nitrogen functionalized carbon nanotube sponge (N‐CFS) were produced at 1020 °C using two sprayers approach in an aerosol‐assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) experiment. The structure of N‐CFS consisted of entangled and corrugated carbon nanofibers of ∼200 nm diameter, also showing junctions and knots. TEM characterizations revealed that the carbon nanofiber exhibits stacked graphitic layers in a transversal way with positive curvature. Superficial chemical analysis by XPS showed that the N‐CFSs contain an atomic concentration of oxygen and nitrogen of 9.2% and 2.9%, respectively. The high‐resolution XPS scans deconvolution‐analysis revealed high percentages for C−O bonds, pyrrolic nitrogen doping, NH 3 functionalization, and Si−C interactions. The cyclic voltammetry measurements did not display a redox process despite the high oxygen concentration at the surface. Hydrophobic functional groups containing C−O bonds do not participate in a redox process (furan, pyran, epoxy, methoxy, ethoxy, among others) could mostly determine the electroactivity of N‐CFS. Based on density functional theory calculations, we determine that the furans transfer a high amount of electron and promote a positive curvature in thin carbon nanotubes. Graphitic materials with furans, pyrans, and epoxy functional groups could be used as an anode in lithium‐ion batteries.