Enhancement of conductivity by diameter control of polyimide-based electrospun carbon nanofibers

Oxydianiline-pyromellitic dianhydride poly(amic acid) (ODA-PMDA PAA) was polymerized with a catalyst support of triethyl amine for controlling molecular weight. This polymer was used for electrospinning in the preparation of PAA nanofibers, a precursor of carbon nanofibers. Here the amount of catalyst and concentration of PAA solution were optimized to produce polyimide-based carbon nanofibers approximately 80 nm in diameter. The effects of molecular weight of PAA, bias voltage, and spinning rate on the morphology of electrospun PAA and polyimide nanofibers have been evaluated. We showed that the conductivity of the carbon nanofiber mat decreased with increasing nanofiber diameter, where the conductivity of polyimide-based carbon nanofiber mat was much higher than those of other types of carbon nanofiber mat. The key ingredient to increase conductivity in a carbon nanofiber mat was found to be the number of cross junctions between nanofibers.