Continuous Electrospinning of Aligned Polymer Nanofibers onto a Wire Drum Collector

TLDR

Electrospinning generates polymeric fibers from micrometers to nanometers, but they are typically collected as random mats, whereas aligned nanofibers are sought for their unique electrical, optical, and mechanical properties. The study presents a simple method for producing one‑centimeter‑wide sheets of aligned nanofibers. The method employs a circular drum of evenly spaced copper wires as the collector for electrospun nanofibers. Aligned nanofiber sheets are collected without disrupting their orientation, demonstrating the method’s robustness.

Abstract

The process of electrospinning produces polymeric fibers with diameters ranging from the micrometer to the nanometer scale. As the fibers are produced, they are usually spun and collected in a random mat lacking structural orientation. In some applications there is interest in parallel alignment of nanofibers to produce structures with unique electrical, optical, and mechanical properties. A simple and successful method for spinning sheets with one centimeter wide strips of aligned nanofibers is presented. The technique uses copper wires spaced evenly in the form of a circular drum as a collector of the electrospun nanofibers. Aligned nanofiber sheets can be collected easily without disturbing the aligned structure, and the method is robust.