Nanofiber

The methods of producing nanofiber

The methods of producing nanofiber
Nanofiber production technology has always been of interest due to the various techniques of producing one-dimensional organic, inorganic, and composite nanomaterials with controllable dimensions. Nanofibers are produced randomly or aligned with a wide range of morphologies such as shell core, hollow, porous, or multi-hollow channel shapes. There are several methods for producing nanofibers, including:
- drawing techniques
- phase separation
- self-assembly
- template synthesis
- freeze-drying synthesis
- interfacial polymerization
- Hydrothermal synthesis
- Solid liquid-vapor growth
- Electrospinning
Electrospinning is a method of producing nanofiber and has various types:
- Bubble electrospinning
- Gas electrospinning
- Melt electrospinning
- Multi-nozzle electrospinning
- Two-Pump electrospinning
- Needleless electrospinning
- Centrifugal spinning

Without any doubt, the electrospinning method is the most suitable and controllable method of producing nanofibers. In this method, we can produce nanofibers with uniform average fiber diameter in comparison to other industrial techniques. This method has many advantages, that is why it has been widely used as one of the best-known methods of nanofiber production in the scale of laboratory and industrial. Nowadays, the electrospinning method is not limited to research projects. Also can be used in various industries. The application range of nanofibers produced with this method is varied, such as sensors, catalysts, filtration, and medical.
Electrospinning method
People think that electrospinning is a very simple and controllable method of producing nanofibers with nanometer diameters. In this method, polymers are used as the fiber former. Then materials such as metals, ceramics, and glasses can be used as fibrous materials. In a common electrospinning process in the laboratory, a polymer solution or melted polymer is pumped through a narrow nozzle with an inner diameter of about 100 microns.
The electrospinning method uses an electric field to produce fibers with a diameter in the range of nano to several microns. This method has become a common process among nanofiber production methods due to its simplicity, speed, high efficiency, and cheap preparation. The applied voltage to a drop of the polymer solution creates a conical shape and is pulled out towards the opposite electrode (collector). In electrospinning, the angle of the cone is about 30 degrees. During the coating on the opposite electrode, the solvent evaporates. And, fibers with diameters in the range of micrometers to nanometers coated on the opposite electrode at high speeds (40 mm / s or more). A closer look at the electrospinning process reveals that the process, despite its simple appearance, is very complex. However, despite the complexity of the electrospinning method due to the presence of various device and solution parameters, this method is currently the fastest and most practical method of producing nanofibers on an industrial scale in the world.