Controllability of the hydrophilic or hydrophobic behavior of the modified polysulfone electrospun nanofiber mats

Abstract

In this study controllability of morphology and wettability behavior of the polysulfone electrospun nanofiber mats (ENMs) by adding the surfactants was investigated. The effect of cationic, anionic, and non-ionic surfactants on diameter size, hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity, surface roughness, and chemical composition of the ENMs was studied using FESEM, contact angle measurement, AFM, and FTIR, respectively. Comparing the surfactant-assisted to surfactant-free nanofibers, the contact angle was decreased (from 115° to 66°) for the SDS. In contrast, it was increased (from 115° to 129°) for the CTAB. A similar trend was observed for the ENMs surface roughness. However, both surfactants caused to decline in the nanofibers' diameter. These observations indicated that by changing the surfactant type, the nanofiber mats surface roughness could be improved whereby the wettability of the fibers would be controlled. These phenomena are thought to be due to change in the solvent evaporation rate during the electrospinning process.