A SILICA/CARBON NANOFIBER COMPOSITE NONWOVEN SURFACE Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to nonwoven surfaces comprised of silica/carbon composite nanofibers obtained by electro spinning method and carbonization process.

Background of the Invention

Many studies have been conducted on use of composite materials comprised of carbon nanofibers obtained by electro spinning method in lithium-ion batteries and as electrode material in super capacitors due to the fact that they have high electrical conductivity and high surface area.

For this purpose, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymer is firstly dissolved in DMF solvent thereby preparing a viscose solution and then a nonwoven surface comprised of PAN nanofibers is obtained from this solution by electro spinning method. The obtained PAN nonwoven surface is subjected to carbonization process thereby enabling conversion of PAN nanofibers into carbon nanofibers. However, flexibility of the obtained carbon nanofiber nonwoven surfaces is very low due to the fragile structure of the carbon nanofibers. Use of these fragile fibers in this state in batteries and super capacitors, which will be produced for flexible or foldable electronic devices, is not possible.

In this study, nonwoven surfaces, which are comprised of silica-carbon composite nanofibers obtained by electro spinning method and carbonization process, are produced. By means of the nanosized silica component doped to the nanofiber structure, the carbon nanofibers obtained by electrospinning method are obtained with high degree of flexibility.

Problems Solved by the Invention

The objective of the present invention is to provide a foldable and flexible silica- carbon nanofiber composite nonwoven surface.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a silica-carbon nanofiber composite nonwoven surface comprising nanosized silica component.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a silica-carbon nanofiber composite nonwoven surface which can be used in batteries and super capacitors that will be produced for flexible or foldable electronic devices and in other industrial areas requiring use of carbon nanofibers.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The foldable and flexible silica-carbon nanofiber composite nonwoven surface of the present invention comprises nanosized silica component.

The "silica-carbon nanofiber composite nonwoven surface production method" developed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figure, in which;

Figure 1 is the view of the process steps of the silica-carbon nanofiber composite nonwoven surface production method of the present invention.

The components in the figures are each given reference numbers as follows:

100. Silica-carbon nanofiber composite nonwoven surface production method 101. Dissolving polyacrylonitrile polymer and nano silica in DMF solvent and preparing a viscose solution

102. Performing electro spinning process on the prepared solution thereby obtaining nonwoven surface

103. Subjecting the obtained nonwoven surface to carbonization process

The process steps of the silica-carbon nanofiber composite nonwoven surface production method of the present invention are basically as follows: - Dissolving polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymer and nano silica in DMF solvent and preparing a viscose solution (101),

Performing electro spinning process on the prepared solution thereby obtaining nonwoven surface (102),

Subjecting the obtained nonwoven surface to carbonization process (103).

The silica-carbon nanofiber composite nonwoven surface of the present invention is used in batteries and super capacitors that will be produced for flexible or foldable electronic devices and in other industrial areas requiring use of carbon nanofibers.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the silica-carbon nanofiber composite nonwoven surface is used in production of anode and cathode for flexible lithium- ion and sodium-ion batteries. They are used in production of electrodes for flexible super capacitors.

Thanks to the present invention, the carbon nanofibers obtained by electro spinning method are obtained with high degree of flexibility by means of the nanosized silica component doped to the nanofiber structure. The foldable and flexible silica-carbon nanofiber composite nonwoven surfaces of the present invention maintain their structural integrity against all kinds of bending and folding.