Fabrication of TiN nanorods by electrospinning and their electrochemical properties

TiN nanorods were synthesized using electrospinning technique followed by thermolysis in different atmospheres. A dimethyl formamide-ethanol solution of poly-(vinyl pyrrolidone) and Ti (IV)-isopropoxide was used as the electrospinning precursor solution and as-spun nanofibers were calcined at 500 °C in air to generate TiO₂ nanofibers. Subsequently, a conversion from TiO₂ nanofibers to TiN nanorods was employed by the nitridation treatment at 600∼1400 °C in ammonia atmosphere. A typical characteristic of the final products was that the pristine nanofibers were cut into nanorods. The conversion from TiO₂ to TiN was realized when the nitridation temperature was above 800 °C. As-prepared nanorods were composed of TiN nano-crystallites and the average crystallite size gradually increased with the increase of the nitridation temperature. Electrochemical properties of TiN nanorods showed strong dependence on the nitridation temperature. The maximum value of the specific capacitance was obtained from the TiN nanorods prepared at 800 °C.