A flexible N-doped carbon-nanofiber film reinforced by halloysite nanotubes(HNTs) for adsorptive desulfurization

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 403; p. 123851
• Main Authors: Sun, Xiao-Lu, Liu, Zan, Cheng, Zhi-Lin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 05.02.2021
• Subjects: Adsorptive desulfurization; Carbon-nanofibers; Electrospinning; Halloysite nanotubes; Mechanical properties; N doping; Electrospinning; Mechanical properties; Halloysite nanotubes; Adsorptive desulfurization; N doping; Carbon-nanofibers
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123851

The synthesis illustration of the HNTs-reinforced N-doped carbon-nanofiber films. [Display omitted] •The HNTs-reinforced N-doped carbon-nanofiber films were produced by electrospinning and carbonization.•These films were of the larger mesoporous volume (Vmes = 0.2117 m3/g) and higher N-contenting (10.93 at.%).•The tensile modulus and flexural modulus were increased by 200 % and 63 %, respectively.•These films exhibited the desirable adsorption performance for thiophene. This report introduced the facile synthesis of the carbon-nanofiber films reinforced by halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) via electrospinning. The HNTs-reinforced N-doped carbon-nanofiber films (PAN/HNTs-CNFs) possessed the higher strength and toughness while keeping the prospective adsorption capability for different sulfur compounds in oil due to the higher N doping content. The PAN/HNTs-CNFs were produced by firstly electrospinning for the HNTs-filled polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber films, followed by the high-temperature carbonization for the conversion of the polymer films into the carbon-nanofiber films with the N doping. The characterizations testified that the HNTs were capable of fulfilling the uniform and disordered dispersion in the carbon-nanofibers. For overcoming the toughness of the carbon-nanofiber film, the HNTs filling the obviously improved the mechanical performance of the carbon-nanofiber films by the pulling-out and bridging effect. Due to accessing the lipophilic and acid surface, abundant hierarchical pore structure and highly N-doping content, the PAN/HNTs-CNFs exhibited the remarkable adsorption performances for thiophene, benzothiophene, and dibenzothiophene (46.73 mg S/g, 38.4 mg S/g and 35.03 mg S/g for 800 ppm sulfur model oil), especially being suitable to the adsorption of thiophene. Furthermore, the study on the adsorption kinetics, equilibrium isotherms, and thermodynamics of thiophene over the PAN/HNTs-CNFs were conducted to discuss the adsorption mechanism.