Mechanical and thermal properties of electrospun polyimide/rGO composite nanofibers via in-situ polymerization and in-situ thermal conversion

[Display omitted] •Single PI/rGO composite nanofiber by in-situ polymerization and in-situ thermal conversion.•Tensile strength of single nanofiber up to 4.2 GPa (PI/rGO-1.0% single nanofiber).•Modulus of single nanofiber up to 121 GPa (PI/rGO-1.2% single nanofiber).•Homogeneous dispersion of rGO by in-situ strategies.•In-situ strategies enhance the interfacial interaction between rGO and PI fibrous matrix. High mechanical performance electrospun polymeric nanofibers are highly desired for practical applications, especially as reinforcements for composites. However, most of the electrospun polymeric nanofibers present tensile strength 295 °C, and the 5% thermal decomposition temperature (T5%) > 539 °C. This work would open a new route for the preparation of high performance electrospun nanofibers for composites.