<br/>Despite the prevailing general idea that manufacturing lignin-based carbon fibres via an electrospinning process requires high molecular weight lignin or lignin fractions, carbon nanofibers from low molecular weight lignin have been realized, without addition of any supportive high molecular weight polymer. Two technical lignins, namely softwood kraft lignin and wheat straw organosolv lignin were fractionated by a single-step solvent extraction. Parent lignins and resulting fractions were thoroughly characterized by means of GPC, FT-IR, quantitative <sup>31</sup>P NMR, HSQC, DSC and TGA. Using optimized spinning solutions and electrospinning process parameters, lignin fibres from lower molecular weight fractions were realised. Uniform and bead-free fibres in both random and aligned mode were confirmed by SEM analyses. Various regimes were further performed for well-defined thermostablised and carbonized fibres. Structural, thermal and morphological properties of the starting lignins and derived carbon fibres were determined.<br/>The accumulated results of this research effort suggest eventually a set of rationales, on the basis of which the proposal of suitable lignins for carbon nanofiber formation could be based.

Against all odds: Carbon nanofibers from unmodified low molecular weight lignin fractions

255th National Meeting (2018)

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