Electrospun Nanomaterials: Biotechnology, Food, Water, Environment, and Energy

James J Doyle,Ramesh P Babu,Santosh Choudhari,Seeram Ramakrishna

doi:10.1155/2013/269313

Abstract

Over the past decade, electrospinning and electrospraying techniques have become affordable platform techniques for growing numbers of students, researchers, academics, and businesses around the world, producing organic and inorganic nanofibres and nanoparticles for a range of purposes. This review illustrates various advances in the science and engineering of electrospun nanomaterials and their applicability in meeting the growing needs within five crucial sectors: clean water, environment, energy, healthcare, and food. Although most of these sectors are principally dominated by synthetic polymer systems, the emergence of natural polymer and hybrid natural-synthetic electrospun polymer systems offers particular advantages. Current scientific and materials engineering advancements have resulted in highly competitive nanofibre, electrospun products, offering credible solutions to real-world applications.

Highlights

Electrospinning has attracted increased attention as a versatile technique, applicable to numerous organic and inorganic systems which can result in a tightly controlled size distribution of nanomaterials [1]
This review aims to provide a review of current electrospun nanomaterials research, processing, applications, technological limitations, and remaining challenges specific to the fields of biotechnology, food, water, environment, and energy
Exploiting the intrinsic benefits of natural polymers, Cao et al [91] recently reported the fabrication of jute cellulose nanowhiskers on PAN, PVA, and silica nanofibrous membrane supports

Summary

Introduction

Electrospinning has attracted increased attention as a versatile technique, applicable to numerous organic and inorganic systems which can result in a tightly controlled size distribution of nanomaterials [1]. Electrospraying is a similar technique to electrospinning, which electrostatically accelerates solution droplets onto a target, forming uniformly sized particulates or thin film coatings. The accelerated droplets can be charged, leading to self-dispersion upon collection at the target These electrohydrodynamic techniques result in a porous structure, which can be in film form as a coating or multidimensional network structure. In its most basic form, the electrospinning process involves placing a polymer solution in a pipette, between two electrodes, which can create potential difference in the kV regime This large voltage electrostatically draws the polymer solution towards a grounded target in a thin, continuous jet, leading to a deposition of a fibrous web. This review aims to provide a review of current electrospun nanomaterials research, processing, applications, technological limitations, and remaining challenges specific to the fields of biotechnology, food, water, environment, and energy

Materials and Production

Applications

Findings

Conclusions