I get a nice uniform sheet of electrospun nanofibres, however after some time when it dries out the sheet starts cracking into pieces, making it very hard to transfer the sheet onto something else.
I am collecting the nanofibres on aluminium foil, I would like the nanofibres to stay as a film, any suggestions on how to do that. Existing literature doesn't mention anything about this.....
1) you can try to use baking paper as collector
2) make the sheets thicker
3) use metal frame as collector
4) get the sheet off before drying
5) use other solvents such as ethanol to remove the nanofiber sheet.
I hope the above suggestions could help you.
I have an experience with electrospinning of PAN/DMF solution and non of the above mentioned drawbacks happened. This is may be due to the fact that DMF, in most of the cases, plays as a plasticizer or a softener. Since you say that after evaporation your fibers are brittle (right?) I guess you are using polyaniline (most likely emeraldine salt) as the precursor polymer. By far, you said you are likely to preserve the electrospun fibers in the form of as-spun mat. The purpose of use is not mentioned, hence, I suppose you are likely to use the mat as a membrane for separating purpose (again: am I in the right direction?). If the answer to above said questions is yes, I suggest to cover your aluminium foil with a very thin layer of polyester non-woven that posses a very good mechanical strength and affects at your separation efficiency at all. Then, impregnate the surface of "now polyester-covered foil' with dmf (!). You may say that DMF will dissolve as-pun fibers. I say it is necessary to attach your initial fibers to each other and a little bit to polyester fabric. My second suggestion: reduce the time of spinning to near three hours and reduce the size of your foil. It will help to reach to a smoothly spun nanofibrous (if really it takes place !) mat ready to use without so much care for the later applications.
Use a polymer sheet to collect the fibers instead of aluminium, and may be you can increase the amount of spin dope.
You can try making a paste out of the electrospun fibers, using water or any liquid that does not desolve your mat. Then you can apply the paste onto any desired substrate. This may result in the breaking of the nanofibers in length, but you can get a uniform film. I hope this helps.
Hi Aisha,
I have few suggestions for you, as follows
You can collect the nanofibers on the aluminum sheet for a long time (at least thickness of the nanofibrous mat should be around 0.1 mm). After deposition of fibers, you try to peel the aluminum foil rather the nano fiber mat. If you try the above way, you will get a nice nanofibrous sheet without getting into pieces. If you have further doubt kindly contact me [email protected]
hello, You might need to change the collector use some polymer substrate. also it is good idea to try to remove the aluminum foil than the fibers itself.
Dear Parmiss,
I found your comment: 'You can try making a paste out of the electrospun fibers, using water or any liquid that does not desolve your mat.' highly interesting. Can you provide me some details how to prepare such paste? I was considering the homogenisation of the nanofibrous mat, but any other idea is interesting for me.
Best regrds
Michał W.
Dear Parmiss,
Wouldnt making a paste result in loss of nanofiber structure?
You can increase the collection time to get a thicker and stable sheet. Molecular weight of the polymer is an important criteria to get good fibers. Adequate spinning distance is also essential.
The collecting mesh should be conductor so it wilk not accumulating electristat charges! or you need to use a discharge method in case of using polyner mesh...
hope this help.
Dr. Purushothaman Kuppan and Negar Ghochaghi I would like to ask you about the possibility or the technique to remove the aluminum foil instead of your electrospun meshes knowing that by using a rotator collector your fibers will be attached strongly to the Al foil because of the electrostatic force? Thank you for your response
For anyone who still have difficulty removing electrospun nanofiber mat, try using wrapping paper foil instead of the generic aluminum foil.
I found it easier to peel off my fibers from the paper foil than the aluminum foil.
Dear sir,
The nanofibre spin polymer based solution can be made on the metal plate/sheet?. please tell.
Nitin P. Varma
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