Method for fabricating a hybrid carbon nanofiber product

A method for fabricating a hybrid carbon nanofiber (Cnf) product decorated with particles, the method comprising:

• preparing an electrospinning solution by dissolving an organic polymer in a solvent to give a first intermediate solution, adding the particles to the first intermediate solution to give a second intermediate solution, and ultra-sonicating the second intermediate solution for a predetermined time to give the electrospinning solution;
• performing an electrospinning process on the electrospinning solution to give an intermediate product, the electrospinning solution comprising the organic polymer and the particles;
• and
• performing a carbonization process on the intermediate product to give the Cnf product decorated with the particles,
• the particles being hafnium carbide (HfC) nanoparticles,
• the carbonization process comprising:
• disposing the intermediate product on a surface of a predetermined shape;
• and
• performing an initial heating stage on the intermediate product on the surface at a first predetermined temperature for a first predetermined time, a plurality of intermediate heating stages on the intermediate product on the surface at respective predetermined temperatures for respective predetermined times, and a cooling stage on the intermediate product on the surface to cool the intermediate product from the predetermined temperature of a last stage of the plurality of intermediate heating stages to an ambient temperature,
• the initial heating stage and the plurality of intermediate heating stages being performed under a vacuum condition,
• the plurality of intermediate heating stages comprising at least four intermediate stages,
• the first predetermined temperature being in a range of from 200° C. to 250° C.,
• each respective predetermined temperature of the plurality of intermediate heating stages being in a range of from about 220° C. to about 800° C.,
• the predetermined temperature of the last stage of the plurality of intermediate heating stages being about 800° C.,
• the predetermined shape of the surface being a cuboid, and
• the hybrid Cnf product being a hybrid Cnf mat.