Impact of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride on the electrospinning of cellulose acetate nanofibers

Abstract

Additives like ionic liquids (ILs) have proven to be excellent materials useful in improving the electrospinnability and conductivity of both synthetic and biopolymers. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of 1-buthyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [BMIM]Cl on the electrospinnability of cellulose acetate (CA). The results showed that [BMIM]Cl has the greater effect on viscosity and conductivity of the spinning solution while the morphology of the nanofibers significantly improved as the concentration of the IL increases from 0% to 12% (v/v) of [BMIM]Cl. To understand the interaction between CA and [BMIM]Cl, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) has been used. Observations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) suggested that [BMIM]Cl significantly altered the morphology of the CA nanofibers and 12% (v/v) of [BMIM]Cl would be an ideal concentration producing uniform fibers with a mean diameter of 180nm. In addition, the membranes showed a significant increase in conductivity (from 0 to 2.21 × 10−7S/cm) as the concentration of ionic liquid increases up to 12% (v/v) that indicates a successful loading of IL inside the nanofibers.