Experimental and theoretical study on the synthesis of nanofibers by laser spinning

Abstract

Laser Spinning is a new technique to produce ultralong amorphous ceramic nanofibers with tailored chemical compositions. In this method, a high power laser is employed to melt a small volume of the precursor material at high temperatures. At the same time, a supersonic gas jet is injected on this molten volume producing its rapid cooling and elongation by viscous friction with the high speed gas flow, hence forming the amorphous nanofibers.An experimental and theoretical analysis of the process was carried out in order to precisely ascertain the influence of the operating conditions on the formation of the fibers. A mathematical model of the cooling and elongation processes was developed to study the influence of the initial physical state of the molten volume on the formation of the nanofibers. Additionally, a second mathematical model was solved to analyze the changes on the fusion front with the operating conditions since they determine the state of the molten material at the beginning of the elongation process. Both models were verified and interrelated by analyses of the experimental results and direct observation, using a high speed camera, of the fusion front and the elongation of a molten filament during Laser Spinning.Laser Spinning is a new technique to produce ultralong amorphous ceramic nanofibers with tailored chemical compositions. In this method, a high power laser is employed to melt a small volume of the precursor material at high temperatures. At the same time, a supersonic gas jet is injected on this molten volume producing its rapid cooling and elongation by viscous friction with the high speed gas flow, hence forming the amorphous nanofibers.An experimental and theoretical analysis of the process was carried out in order to precisely ascertain the influence of the operating conditions on the formation of the fibers. A mathematical model of the cooling and elongation processes was developed to study the influence of the initial physical state of the molten volume on the formation of the nanofibers. Additionally, a second mathematical model was solved to analyze the changes on the fusion front with the operating conditions since they determine the state of the molten material at the beginning of the elongatio...