Facile stabilization process of polyacrylonitrile-based electrospun nanofibers by spraying 1% hydrogen peroxide and electron beam irradiation

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based electrospun nanofibers (NFs) were irradiated using an electron beam. 1% hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) solution was sprayed during Electron Beam Irradiation (EBI) as a further oxidative stabilization process. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) of electrospun PAN NFs indicated that the transformation of CN to CN groups was accelerated by spraying 1% H ₂O₂ solution. EBI-H₂O₂ stabilized PAN NFs reduce the onset temperature, extends the exothermic reaction, and improves the stabilization at a significantly lower dose of irradiation (50 kGy) as a result of cyclization and oxidation of PAN molecules caused by 1% H ₂O₂ solution.