Facile transformation of soot nanoparticles into nanoporous fibers via single-step electrospinning

Tingping Lei,Junjie Huang,Xiaomei Cai,Tao Zheng,Jinyu Xiong

doi:10.1063/1.4996397

Abstract

A facile technique to transform candle soots into nanoporous fibers via electrospinning of mixed solution of candle soots and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) has been demonstrated for the first time. Due to insolubility of soot nanoparticles and good solubility of PVDF polymer in DMF/acetone solvents, the soot molecules are heterogeneously dispersed in the mixed solutions. The selection of an appropriate polymer concentration resulted in a good dispersion of the low-density soot nanoparticles which can be held for electrospinning. The electrospinning experiment shows that soot nanoparticles can be smoothly bonded with PVDF molecules to form nanoporous fibers. The unique superhydrophobic and superoleophilic properties of the as-prepared electrospun fibrous membrane were demonstrated by subjecting it to various aqueous liquids and oils. This work provides a simple way to transform low-density nanoparticles into high-performance nanoporous nanofibers, which should broaden the applications of electrospinning.

Highlights

Soot, a product of impure carbon particles virtually from all combustion processes, exists ubiquitously in the troposphere and has harmful influence on climate, environment and human health.[1]
Since the soots and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) are of completely different solubilities (PVDF is well dissolved in DMF but the soots are not), the soots are only dispersed in their mixed solutions
We have demonstrated a facile transformation of candle soots into nanoporous fibers via single-step electrospinning of mixed solution of candle soots and PVDF polymer

Summary

INTRODUCTION

A product of impure carbon particles virtually from all combustion processes, exists ubiquitously in the troposphere and has harmful influence on climate, environment and human health.[1]. Seo et al created a stable (remaining intact against the collision of 10,000 water drops from a free-fall height of 10 cm and staying over a wide range of pH values for various contacting fluids) superhydrophobic surface of candle soot by fixing the fragile soot on various substrates (wood, metal, ceramic, paper and plastic) with the paraffin wax coated on.[9] Recently, Sahoo et al reported facile synthesis of nano cauliflower and nano broccoli like hierarchical superhydrophobic composite coating using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/carbon soot particles via gelation technique.[10] In addition, several other research efforts have witnessed the use of candle soot as a template to prepare various excellent superhydrophobic surfaces/coatings via different processes.[11,12,13]. The specific wettability (hydrophobicity/oleophilicity) of the fibrous membrane is investigated and the superhydrophobic and superoleophilic properties of the membrane are recorded

EXPERIMENTAL

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSIONS