Enhancement of electrosorption capacity of activated carbon fibers by grafting with carbon nanofibers

The composite films of activated carbon fibers (ACFs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are prepared via chemical vapor deposition of CNFs onto ACFs in different times from 0.5 to 2 h and their electrosorption behaviors in NaCl solution are investigated. The morphology, structure, porous and electrochemical properties are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, N₂ adsorption at 77 K, contact angle goniometer and electrochemical workstation, respectively. The results show that CNFs have been hierarchically grown on the surface of ACFs and the as grown ACF/CNF composite films have less defects, higher specific capacitances, more suitable mesoporous structure and more hydrophilic surface than the pristine ACFs, which is beneficial to their electrosorption performance. The ACFs/CNFs with CNFs deposited in 1 h exhibit an optimized NaCl removal ratio of 80%, 55% higher than that of ACFs and the NaCl electrosorption follows a Langmuir isotherm with a maximum electrosorption capacity of 17.19 mg/g.