Electrospun nanoporous materials: reality, potential and challenges

Abstract

Electrospinning has been recognised as an efficient technique for the fabrication of continuous nanofibres. In the present paper, an approach to producing nanoporous materials by electrospinning was discussed, and a general strategy for the synthesis of nanoporous materials by electrospinning was suggested. The numbers and sizes of the pores and microspheres could be controlled by tunable voltage or flowrate applied in the electrospinning process. The electrospun nanoporous materials offer the potential for direct fabrication of biologically based, high surface area porous materials without the use of multiple synthetic steps, or post-processing surface treatments.