Carbonaceous metal/ceramic nanofibers

Abstract

Provided herein are nanofibers and processes of preparing carbonaceous nanofibers. In some embodiments, the nanofibers are high quality, high performance nanofibers, highly coherent nanofibers, highly continuous nanofibers, or the like. In some embodiments, the nanofibers have increased coherence, increased length, few voids and/or defects, and/or other advantageous characteristics. In some instances, the nanofibers are produced by electrospinning a fluid stock having a high loading of nanofiber precursor in the fluid stock. In some instances, the fluid stock comprises well mixed and/or uniformly distributed precursor in the fluid stock. In some instances, the fluid stock is converted into a nanofiber comprising few voids, few defects, long or tunable length, and the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plurality of nanofibers comprising a polymer component and a metal component, the metal component comprising a ceramic, a ceramic precursor, or a combination thereof, and the plurality of nanofiber comprising at least one weight part metal component for every one part polymer component. 
     
     
         2 . The plurality of nanofibers of  claim 1 , wherein the metal of the metal component is selected from the group consisting of Ag, Cu, Ni, Fe, Co, Pb, Au, Sn, Al, Zr, Mn, Be, Cd, Si, Ti, V, Hf, Sr, Ba, Ge, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The plurality of nanofibers of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of nanofibers comprises the ceramic, and the ceramic is selected from the group consisting of Al 2 O 3 , ZrO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , CuO, NiO, ZnO, CdO, SiO 2 , TiO 2 , V 2 O 5 , VO 2 , Fe 3 O 4 , SnO, SnO 2 , CoO, CoO 2 , Co 3 O 4 , HfO 2 , BaTiO 3 , SrTiO 3 , and BaSrTiO 3 . 
     
     
         4 . The plurality of nanofibers of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of nanofibers comprises the ceramic, and the ceramic is a silicon-containing ceramic. 
     
     
         5 . The plurality of nanofibers of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of nanofibers comprises the ceramic precursor, and the ceramic precursor is a silicon-containing ceramic precursor. 
     
     
         6 . The plurality of nanofibers of  claim 1 , wherein the metal component is not a sol-gel ceramic or precursor thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The plurality of nanofibers of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer component comprises polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyvinyl ether, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyglycolic acid, hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), ethylcellulose, cellulose ethers, polyacrylic acid (PAA), polyisocyanate, polyacrylonitrile (PAN), or any combination of one or more thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The plurality of nanofibers of  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic is embedded on the surface of the plurality of nanofibers. 
     
     
         9 . The plurality of nanofibers of  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic is embedded within the polymer component. 
     
     
         10 . The plurality of nanofibers of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of nanofibers are configured into a nanofiber mat. 
     
     
         11 . The plurality of nanofibers of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of nanofibers are configured into an isotropic nanofiber mat. 
     
     
         12 . The plurality of nanofibers of  claim 10 , wherein the nanofiber mat has a porosity of at least 20%. 
     
     
         13 . The plurality of nanofibers of  claim 12 , wherein the nanofiber mat has a porosity of at least 40%. 
     
     
         14 . The plurality of nanofibers of  claim 13 , wherein the nanofiber mat has a porosity of at least 60%. 
     
     
         15 . The plurality of nanofibers of  claim 14 , wherein the nanofiber mat has a porosity of at least 70%. 
     
     
         16 . The plurality of nanofibers of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of nanofibers are configured into a given geometry. 
     
     
         17 . A plurality of nanofibers comprising a polymer component and a metal component, the metal component comprising a silicon, a silicon oxide, or a precursor thereof, and the plurality of nanofiber comprising at least one weight part metal component for every one part polymer component. 
     
     
         18 . The plurality of nanofibers of  claim 17 , wherein the metal component is not a sol-gel ceramic or precursor thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The plurality of nanofibers of  claim 17 , wherein the polymer component comprises polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyvinyl ether, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyglycolic acid, hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), ethylcellulose, cellulose ethers, polyacrylic acid (PAA), polyisocyanate, polyacrylonitrile (PAN), or any combination of one or more thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The plurality of nanofibers of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of nanofibers are configured into a nanofiber mat.