Preparation of the flexible ZrO2/C composite nanofibrous film via electrospinning

The flexible ZrO 2 /C composite nanofibrous film was fabricated by electrospinning and thermal treatment. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometer, and Fourier transform infrared spectra were used to characterize the morphology and microstructure of the ZrO 2 /C composite nanofibrous film. The ZrO 2 /C nanofibers exhibited rough surface and had the average diameter of about 230 ± 35 nm. And the ZrO 2 nanoparticles were incorporated in carbon matrix and in tetragonal and monoclinic. The flexural property of the ZrO 2 /C composite nanofibrous film was investigated in detail. The results showed that the flexural property of the nanofibrous film was greatly improved with addition of the ZrO 2 nanoparticles. Besides, with the increase of the contents of ZrO 2 nanoparticles, the flexural modulus of the nanofibrous film decreased, reached a lowest value, and then increased. The lowest flexural modulus of the ZrO 2 /C composite nanofibrous film in precursor concentration of 7.0 wt% was 8.55 ± 0.06 MPa.