Special Issue "Fabrication and Characterization of Nanostructured Carbon Electrodes".

The nanostructured carbon materials are promising electrode materials and have been widely studied owing to their tailorable structures, which offer large active sites and reduce the path of transport for mass and charge and thus provide fast pathways for electrons in rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors [...].

Sponge-Like Porous-Conductive Polymer Coating for Ultrastable Silicon Anodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Urgent calls for reversible cycling performance of silicon (Si) requires an efficient solution to maintain the silicon-electrolyte interface stable. Herein, a conductive biphenyl-polyoxadiazole (bPOD) layer is coated on Si particles to enhance the electrochemical process and prolong the cells lifespan. The conformal bPOD coatings are mixed ionicelectronic conductors, which not only inhibit the infinite growth of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) but also endow electrodes with outstanding ion/electrons transport capacity. The superior 3D porous structure in the continuous phase allows the bPOD layers to act like a sponge to buffer volume variation, resulting in high structural stability. The in situ polymerized bPOD coating and it-driven thin LiF-rich SEI layer remarkably improve the lithium storage performance of Si anodes, showing a high reversible specific capacity of 1600 mAh g-1 even after 500 cycles at 1 A g-1 along with excellent rate capacity of over 1500 mAh g-1 at 3 A g-1 . It should be noticed that a long cycle life of 800 cycles with 1065 mAh g-1 at 3 A g-1 can also be achieved with a capacity retention of more than 80%. Therefore,  we  believe this unique polymer coating design paves the way for the widespread adoption of next-generation lithium-ion batteries.

N-Type Polyoxadiazole Conductive Polymer Binders Derived High-Performance Silicon Anodes Enabled by Crosslinking Metal Cations.

The dilemma of employing high-capacity battery materials and maintaining the electrodes' electrical and mechanical integrity requires a unique binder system design. Polyoxadiazole (POD) is an n-type conductive polymer with excellent electronic and ionic conductive properties, which has acted as a silicon binder to achieve high specific capacity and rate performance. However, due to its linear structure, it cannot effectively alleviate the enormous volume change of silicon during the process of lithiation/delithiation, resulting in poor cycle stability. This paper systematically studied metal ion (i.e., Li+, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and Sr2+)-crosslinked PODs as silicon anode binders. The results show that the ionic radius and valence state remarkably influence the polymer's mechanical properties and the electrolyte's infiltration. Electrochemical methods have thoroughly explored the effects of different ion crosslinks on the ionic and electronic conductivity of POD in the intrinsic and n-doped states. Attributed to the excellent mechanical strength and good elasticity, Ca-POD can better maintain the overall integrity of the electrode structure and conductive network, significantly improving the cycling stability of the silicon anode. The cell with such binders still retains a capacity of 1770.1 mA h g-1 after 100 cycles at 0.2 C, which is ∼285% that of the cell with the PAALi binder (620.6 mA h g-1). This novel strategy using metal-ion crosslinking polymer binders and the unique experimental design provides a new pathway of high-performance binders for next-generation rechargeable batteries.

N-Doped carbon nanoparticles on highly porous carbon nanofiber electrodes for sodium ion batteries.

Nitrogen doped carbon nanoparticles on highly porous carbon nanofiber electrodes were successfully synthesized via combining centrifugal spinning, chemical polymerization of pyrrole and a two-step heat treatment. Nanoparticle-on-nanofiber morphology with highly porous carbon nanotube like channels were observed from SEM and TEM images. Nitrogen doped carbon nanoparticles on highly porous carbon nanofiber (N-PCNF) electrodes exhibited excellent cycling and C-rate performance with a high reversible capacity of around 280 mA h g-1 in sodium ion batteries. Moreover, at 1000 mA g-1, a high reversible capacity of 172 mA h g-1 was observed after 300 cycles. The superior electrochemical properties were attributed to a highly porous structure with enlarged d-spacings, enriched defects and active sites due to nitrogen doping. The electrochemical results prove that N-PCNF electrodes are promising electrode materials for high performance sodium ion batteries.

Engineering PEDOT:PSS/PEG Fibers with a Textured Surface toward Comprehensive Personal Thermal Management.

The wild environment is unpredictable where soaring or plummeting temperatures in extreme weather events can pose serious threats to human lives. Incorporating passive evaporative cooling and controllable electric heating into clothing could effectively protect human beings from such harsh environments. In this work, poly(3,4-ethylene dioxy thiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PPP) fibers with the core-shell structure and attractively textured surface have been successfully prepared via a single-nozzle wet-spinning technique. Results show that the fibers possess fascinating specific surface area (184.8 m2·g-1), electrical conductivity (50 S·cm-1), and stretchability (>100%) because of the novel preparation method and hierarchical morphological design. Through simple textile manufacturing routes, PPP fibers can be woven into fabrics easily, which exhibit desirable breathability, washability, and mechanical strength for smart textiles while maintaining favorable hygroscopicity. Benefiting from the textured structure with large specific surface area, PPP fabric exhibits attractile evaporative cooling rate. Practical application tests have demonstrated that under direct sunlight, the surface temperature of the PPP fabric is ∼5.2 and ∼10.8 °C lower than commercial cotton and polyester fabrics, respectively. Meanwhile, as conductive fibers, the resultant PPP fabric can heat under low-power electricity, therefore achieving the effect of "warmth in winter and coolness in summer". The facile fabrication process and elevated performance of PPP fibers present significant advantages for applications in intelligent garments and textiles, as well as comprehensive personal thermal management, which opens a new avenue for future design in these fields.

Unravelling the Influence of Surface Modification on the Ultimate Performance of Carbon Fiber/Epoxy Composites.

The overall performance of polymer composites depends on not only the intrinsic properties of the polymer matrix and inorganic filler but also the quality of interfacial adhesion. Although many reported approaches have been focused on the chemical treatment for improving interfacial adhesion, the examination of ultimate mechanical performance and long-term properties of polymer composites has been rarely investigated. Herein, we report carbon fiber (CF)/epoxy composites with improved interfacial adhesion by covalent bonding between CFs and the epoxy matrix. This leads to the improved ultimate mechanical properties and enhanced thermal aging performance. Raman mapping demonstrates the formation of an interphase region derived from the covalent bonding between CFs and the epoxy matrix, which enables the uniform fiber distribution and eliminates phase separation during thermal cycling. The covalent attachment of the CF to the epoxy matrix suppresses its migration during temperature fluctuations, preserving the mechanical performance of resulting composites under the thermal aging process. Furthermore, the finite elemental analysis reveals the effectiveness of the chemical treatment of CFs in improving the interfacial strength and toughness of silane-treated CF/epoxy composites. The insight into the mechanical improvement of CF/epoxy composites suggests the high potential of surface modification of inorganic fillers toward polymer composites with tunable properties for different applications.

MoS2-Decorated Graphene@porous Carbon Nanofiber Anodes via Centrifugal Spinning.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries as green energy storage devices because of their similar working principles and the abundance of low-cost sodium resources. Nanostructured carbon materials are attracting great interest as high-performance anodes for SIBs. Herein, a simple and fast technique to prepare carbon nanofibers (CNFs) is presented, and the effects of carbonization conditions on the morphology and electrochemical properties of CNF anodes in Li- and Na-ion batteries are investigated. Porous CNFs containing graphene were fabricated via centrifugal spinning, and MoS2 were decorated on graphene-included porous CNFs via hydrothermal synthesis. The effect of MoS2 on the morphology and the electrode performance was examined in detail. The results showed that the combination of centrifugal spinning, hydrothermal synthesis, and heat treatment is an efficient way to fabricate high-performance electrodes for rechargeable batteries. Furthermore, CNFs fabricated at a carbonization temperature of 800 °C delivered the highest capacity, and the addition of MoS2 improved the reversible capacity up to 860 mAh/g and 455 mAh/g for Li- and Na-ion batteries, respectively. A specific capacity of over 380 mAh/g was observed even at a high current density of 1 A/g. Centrifugal spinning and hydrothermal synthesis allowed for the fabrication of high-performance electrodes for sodium ion batteries.

Novel hollow α-Fe2O3 nanofibers with robust performance enabled multi-functional applications.

The synthetic strategies of achieving low-cost and high-performance nanofibers are of great significance in the field of catalysis and detection. In this work, a series of electrospun α-Fe2O3 nanofibers with hollow structure were prepared via combination technology of electrospinning, hydrothermal synthesis, and controlled calcination process. Especially, the influences of the crystal structure and morphology on the comprehensive properties of nanofibers have been explored in detail. The results indicated that α-Fe2O3 nanofibers could be obtained via the calcination at 600-800 °C. Rice-like α-Fe2O3 particles were observed to assemble a stable exoskeleton, supporting a robust tubular cavity. And this tubular structure turned gradually into groove-like structure as the calcination temperature increased, accompanied by tunable crystallization, specific surface area and magnetic property. Finally, combined with series of validation tests, including dye decolorization, electrochemical detection of trace cadmium ions and Fenton degradation of polyvinyl alcohol, the resultant α-Fe2O3 nanofibers have been demonstrated to show the potential application prospects.

Recent Developments of Tin (II) Sulfide/Carbon Composites for Achieving High-Performance Lithium Ion Batteries: A Critical Review.

The ever-increasing worldwide energy demand and the limited resources of fossil have forced the urgent adoption of renewable energy sources. Additionally, concerns over CO2 emissions and potential increases in fuel prices have boosted technical efforts to make hybrid and electric vehicles more accessible to the public. Rechargeable batteries are undoubtedly a key player in this regard, especially lithium ion batteries (LIBs), which have high power capacity, a fast charge/discharge rate, and good cycle stability, while their further energy density improvement has been severely limited, because of the relatively low theoretical capacity of the graphite anode material which is mostly used. Among various high-capacity anode candidates, tin (II) sulfide (SnS2) has been attracted remarkable attention for high-energy LIBs due to its enormous resource and simplicity of synthesis, in addition to its high theoretical capacity. However, SnS2 has poor intrinsic conductivity, a big volume transition, and a low initial Coulombic efficiency, resulting in a short lifespan. SnS2/carbon composites have been considered to be a most promising approach to addressing the abovementioned issues. Therefore, this review summarizes the current progress in the synthesis of SnS2/carbon anode materials and their Li-ion storage properties, with special attention to the developments in Li-based technology, attributed to its immense current importance and promising prospects. Finally, the existing challenges within this field are presented, and potential opportunities are discussed.

Cost-effective carbon fiber precursor selections of polyacrylonitrile-derived blend polymers: carbonization chemistry and structural characterizations.

Blending polyacrylonitrile (PAN) with plastic wastes and bio-based polymers provides a convenient and inexpensive method to realize cost-effective carbon fiber (CF) precursors. In this work, PAN-based blend precursors are investigated using ReaxFF reactive molecular dynamics simulations with respect to the formation of all-carbon rings, the evolutions of oxygen-containing and nitrogen-containing species, and the migration of carbon atoms to form turbostratic graphene. From these simulations, we identify that PAN/cellulose (CL) blend manifests the highest carbon yield and the most substantial all-carbon ring formation. This ReaxFF-based finding is confirmed by Raman and TEM experiments indicating high crystallinity for PAN/CL-derived blend CFs. We trace the pathway of gasification and carbonization of PAN/CL to elaborate the mechanism of the formation of all-carbon ring networks. We discover that the acetals of CL can catalyze the cyclization of the blend precursor, allowing for the search for CL derivatives or the other kinds of bio-based polymers with similar functionalities as alternative blends. In addition, we examine the structural characteristics using the carbon-carbon (C-C) radial distribution functions, C-C bond length distributions, and sp2 C atom ratios for the four representative precursors, i.e., PAN, oxidized PAN, PAN/nylon 6,6, and PAN/CL. Our simulation results show the most extensive all-carbon ring cluster and graphitic structure growths for PAN/CL. Therefore, we propose PAN/CL as a cost-effective alternative CF precursor, since (a) CL is naturally abundant and eco-friendly for production, (b) the blend precursor PAN/CL does not require oxidation treatment, (c) PAN/CL has a high carbon yield with substantial all-carbon ring formation, and (d) PAN/CL based CFs potentially provide a mechanical property enhancement.

Unraveling the Role of Neutral Units for Single-Ion Conducting Polymer Electrolytes.

With the cationic transference number close to unity, single-ion conducting polymer electrolytes (SICPEs) are recognized as an advanced electrolyte system with improved energy efficiency for battery application. The relatively low ionic conductivity for most of the SICPEs in comparison with liquid electrolytes remains the major "bottleneck" for their practical applications. Polyethylene oxide (PEO) has been recognized as a benchmark for solid polymer electrolytes due to its high salt solubility and reasonable ionic conductivity. PEO has two advantages: (i) the polar ether groups coordinate well with lithium ions (Li+) providing good dissociation from anions, and (ii) the low Tg provides fast segmental dynamics at ambient temperature and assists rapid charge transport. These properties lead to active use of PEO as neutral plasticizing units in SICPEs. Herein, we present a detailed comparison of new SICPEs copolymerized with PEO units vs SICPEs copolymerized with other types of neutral units possessing either flexible or polar structures. The presented analysis revealed that the polarity of side chains has a limited influence on ion dissociation for copolymer-type SICPEs. The Li+-ion dissociation seems to be controlled by the charge delocalization on the polymerized anion. With good miscibility between plasticizing neutral units and ionic conductive units, the ambient ionic conductivity of synthesized SICPEs is still mainly controlled by the Tg of the copolymer. This work sheds light on the dominating role of PEO in SICPE systems and provides helpful guidance for designing polymer electrolytes with new functionalities and structures. Furthermore, based on the presented results, we propose that designing polyanions with a highly delocalized charge may be another promising route for achieving sufficient lithium ionic conductivity in solvent-free SICPEs.

Characterize traction-separation relation and interfacial imperfections by data-driven machine learning models.

Interfacial mechanical properties are important in composite materials and their applications, including vehicle structures, soft robotics, and aerospace. Determination of traction-separation (T-S) relations at interfaces in composites can lead to evaluations of structural reliability, mechanical robustness, and failures criteria. Accurate measurements on T-S relations remain challenging, since the interface interaction generally happens at microscale. With the emergence of machine learning (ML), data-driven model becomes an efficient method to predict the interfacial behaviors of composite materials and establish their mechanical models. Here, we combine ML, finite element analysis (FEA), and empirical experiments to develop data-driven models that characterize interfacial mechanical properties precisely. Specifically, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) multi-output regressions and classifier models are harnessed to investigate T-S relations and identify the imperfection locations at interface, respectively. The ML models are trained by macroscale force-displacement curves, which can be obtained from FEA and standard mechanical tests. The results show accurate predictions of T-S relations (R2 = 0.988) and identification of imperfection locations with 81% accuracy. Our models are experimentally validated by 3D printed double cantilever beam specimens from different materials. Furthermore, we provide a code package containing trained ML models, allowing other researchers to establish T-S relations for different material interfaces.

Graphene reinforced carbon fibers.

The superlative strength-to-weight ratio of carbon fibers (CFs) can substantially reduce vehicle weight and improve energy efficiency. However, most CFs are derived from costly polyacrylonitrile (PAN), which limits their widespread adoption in the automotive industry. Extensive efforts to produce CFs from low cost, alternative precursor materials have failed to yield a commercially viable product. Here, we revisit PAN to study its conversion chemistry and microstructure evolution, which might provide clues for the design of low-cost CFs. We demonstrate that a small amount of graphene can minimize porosity/defects and reinforce PAN-based CFs. Our experimental results show that 0.075 weight % graphene-reinforced PAN/graphene composite CFs exhibits 225% increase in strength and 184% enhancement in Young's modulus compared to PAN CFs. Atomistic ReaxFF and large-scale molecular dynamics simulations jointly elucidate the ability of graphene to modify the microstructure by promoting favorable edge chemistry and polymer chain alignment.

Unveiling Carbon Ring Structure Formation Mechanisms in Polyacrylonitrile-Derived Carbon Fibers.

As the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous vehicles (AVs) rapidly grows, lower-cost, lighter, and stronger carbon fibers (CFs) are urgently needed to respond to consumers' call for greater EV traveling range and stronger safety structures for AVs. Converting polymeric precursors to CFs requires a complex set of thermochemical processes; a systematic understanding of each parameter in fiber conversion is still, to a large extent, lacking. Here, we demonstrate the effect of carbonization temperature on carbon ring structure formation by combining atomistic/microscale simulations and experimental validation. Experimental testing, as predicted by simulations, exhibited that the strength and ductility of PAN CFs decreased, whereas the Young's modulus increased with increasing carbonization temperature. Our simulations unveiled that high carbonization temperature accelerated the kinetics of graphitic phase nucleation and growth, leading to the decrease in strength and ductility but increase in modulus. The methodology presented herein using combined atomistic/microscale simulations and experimental validation lays a firm foundation for further innovation in CF manufacturing and low-cost alternative precursor development.

BODIPY-embedded electrospun materials in antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation.

Drug-resistant pathogens, particularly those that result in hospital acquired infections (HAIs), have emerged as a critical priority for the World Health Organization. To address the need for self-disinfecting materials to counter the threat posed by the transmission of these pathogens from surfaces to new hosts, here we investigated if a cationic BODIPY photosensitizer, embedded via electrospinning into nylon and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers, was capable of inactivating both bacteria and viruses via antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI). Materials characterization, including fiber morphology and the degree of photosensitizer loading, was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS), and demonstrated that the materials were comprised of nanofibers (125-215 nm avg. diameter) that were thermostable to >300 °C. The antimicrobial potencies of the resultant Nylon-BODIPY(+) and PAN-BODIPY(+) nanofiber materials were evaluated against four strains of bacteria recognized by the World Health Organization as either critical or high priority pathogens: Gram-positive strains methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA; ATCC BAA-44) and vancomycin-resistant E. faecium (VRE; ATCC BAA-2320), and Gram-negative strains multidrug-resistant A. baumannii (MDRAB; ATCC BAA-1605) and NDM-1 positive K. pneumoniae (KP; ATCC BAA-2146). Our results demonstrated the detection limit (99.9999%; 6 log units reduction in CFU mL-1) photodynamic inactivation of three strains upon illumination (30-60 min; 40-65 ± 5 mW cm-2; 400-700 nm): MRSA, VRE, and MDRAB, but only minimal inactivation (47-75%) of KP. Antiviral studies employing PAN-BODIPY(+) against vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), a model enveloped virus, revealed complete inactivation. Taken together, the results demonstrate the potential for electrospun BODIPY(+)-embedded nanofiber materials as the basis for pathogen-specific anti-infective materials, even at low photosensitizer loadings.

Carbon-enhanced centrifugally-spun SnSb/carbon microfiber composite as advanced anode material for sodium-ion battery.

Antimony tin (SnSb) based materials have become increasingly attractive as a potential anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) owing to their prominent merit of high capacity. However, cyclic stability and rate capability of SnSb anodes are currently hindered by their large volume change during repeated cycling, which results in severe capacity fading. Herein, we introduce carbon-coated centrifugally-spun SnSb@carbon microfiber (CMF) composites as high-performance anodes for SIBs that can maintain their structural stability during repeated charge-discharge cycles. The centrifugal spinning method was performed to fabricate SnSb@CMFs due to its high speed, low cost, and large-scale fabrication features. More importantly, extra carbon coating by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has been demonstrated as an effective method to improve the capacity retention and Coulombic efficiency of the SnSb@CMF anode. Electrochemical test results indicated that the as-prepared SnSb@CMF@C anode could deliver a large reversible capacity of 798 mA h∙g-1 at the 20th cycle as well as a high capacity retention of 86.8% and excellent Coulombic efficiency of 98.1% at the 100th cycle. It is, therefore, demonstrated that SnSb@CMF@C composite is a promising anode material candidate for future high-performance SIBs.

Reduced Graphene Oxide-Incorporated SnSb@CNF Composites as Anodes for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries because of the low cost and natural abundance of sodium resources. Nevertheless, low energy density and poor cycling stability of current SIBs unfavorably hinder their practical implementation for the smart power grid and stationary storage applications. Antimony tin (SnSb) is one of the most promising anode materials for next-generation SIBs attributing to its high capacity, high abundance, and low toxicity. However, the practical application of SnSb anodes in SIBs is currently restricted because of their large volume changes during cycling, which result in serious pulverization and loss of electrical contact between the active material and the carbon conductor. Herein, we apply reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-incorporated SnSb@carbon nanofiber (SnSb@rGO@CNF) composite anodes in SIBs that can sustain their structural stability during prolonged charge-discharge cycles. Electrochemical performance results shed light on that the combination of rGO, CNF, and SnSb alloy led to a high-capacity anode (capacity of 490 mAh g-1  at the 10th cycle) with a high capacity retention of 87.2% and a large Coulombic efficiency of 97.9% at the 200th cycle. This work demonstrates that the SnSb@rGO@CNF composite is a potential and attractive anode material for next-generation, high-energy SIBs.

Biomass-derived porous carbon modified glass fiber separator as polysulfide reservoir for Li-S batteries.

Biomass-derived porous carbon has been considered as a promising sulfur host material for lithium-sulfur batteries because of its high conductive nature and large porosity. The present study explored biomass-derived porous carbon as polysulfide reservoir to modify the surface of glass fiber (GF) separator. Two different carbons were prepared from Oak Tree fruit shells by carbonization with and without KOH activation. The KOH activated porous carbon (AC) provides a much higher surface area (796 m2 g-1) than pyrolized carbon (PC) (334 m2 g-1). The R factor value, calculated from the X-ray diffraction pattern, revealed that the activated porous carbon contains more single-layer sheets with a lower degree of graphitization. Raman spectra also confirmed the presence of sp3-hybridized carbon in the activated carbon structure. The COH functional group was identified through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for the polysulfide capture. Simple and straightforward coating of biomass-derived porous carbon onto the GF separator led to an improved electrochemical performance in Li-S cells. The Li-S cell assembled with porous carbon modified GF separator (ACGF) demonstrated an initial capacity of 1324 mAh g-1 at 0.2 C, which was 875 mAh g-1 for uncoated GF separator (calculated based on the 2nd cycle). Charge transfer resistance (Rct) values further confirmed the high ionic conductivity nature of porous carbon modified separators. Overall, the biomass-derived activated porous carbon can be considered as a promising alternative material for the polysulfide inhibition in Li-S batteries.

Poly(vinyl Alcohol) Borate Gel Polymer Electrolytes Prepared by Electrodeposition and Their Application in Electrochemical Supercapacitors.

Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) have been studied for preparing flexible and compact electrochemical energy storage devices. However, the preparation and use of GPEs are complex, and most GPEs prepared through traditional methods do not have good wettability with the electrodes, which retard them from achieving their performance potential. In this study, these problems are addressed by conceiving and implementing a simple, but effective, method of electrodepositing poly(vinyl alcohol) potassium borate (PVAPB) GPEs directly onto the surfaces of active carbon electrodes for electrochemical supercapacitors. PVAPB GPEs serve as both the electrolyte and the separator in the assembled supercapacitors, and their scale and shape are determined solely by the geometry of the electrodes. PVAPB GPEs have good bonding to the active electrode materials, leading to excellent and stable electrochemical performance of the supercapacitors. The electrochemical performance of PVAPB GPEs and supercapacitors can be manipulated simply by adjusting the concentration of KCl salt used during the electrodeposition process. With a 0.9 M KCl concentration, the as-prepared supercapacitors deliver a specific capacitance of 65.9 F g(-1) at a current density of 0.1 A g(-1) and retain more than 95% capacitance after 2000 charge/discharge cycles at a current density of 1 A g(-1). These supercapacitors also exhibit intelligent high voltage self-protection function due to the electrolysis-induced cross-linking effect of PVAPB GPEs.

Photosensitizer-Embedded Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibers as Antimicrobial Non-Woven Textile.

Toward the objective of developing platform technologies for anti-infective materials based upon photodynamic inactivation, we employed electrospinning to prepare a non-woven textile comprised of polyacrylonitrile nanofibers embedded with a porphyrin-based cationic photosensitizer; termed PAN-Por(+). Photosensitizer loading was determined to be 34.8 nmol/mg material; with thermostability to 300 °C. Antibacterial efficacy was evaluated against four bacteria belonging to the ESKAPE family of pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus; vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium; Acinetobacter baumannii; and Klebsiella pneumonia), as well as Escherichia coli. Our results demonstrated broad photodynamic inactivation of all bacterial strains studied upon illumination (30 min; 65 ± 5 mW/cm²; 400-700 nm) by a minimum of 99.9996+% (5.8 log units) regardless of taxonomic classification. PAN-Por(+) also inactivated human adenovirus-5 (~99.8% reduction in PFU/mL) and vesicular stomatitis virus (>7 log units reduction in PFU/mL). When compared to cellulose-based materials employing this same photosensitizer; the higher levels of photodynamic inactivation achieved here with PAN-Por(+) are likely due to the combined effects of higher photosensitizer loading and a greater surface area imparted by the use of nanofibers. These results demonstrate the potential of photosensitizer-embedded polyacrylonitrile nanofibers to serve as scalable scaffolds for anti-infective or self-sterilizing materials against both bacteria and viruses when employing a photodynamic inactivation mode of action.