Needleless Electrospinning System, an Efficient Platform to Fabricate Carbon Nanofibers

Abstract

In the present study, the effects of different parameters of needleless electrospinning systems on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers morphology and diameter were studied. The electric field profile at the surface of the spinneret and electrospinning zone was evaluated by Finite Element Method. The PAN nanofibers were used as the precursor to fabricate carbon nanofibers. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy were used for electrospun nanofibers analysis. The results of electric field analysis indicated, in the spinning direction, the electric field was concentrated at the surface of the spinneret and decayed rapidly toward the surface of the collector. Increasing polymer solution concentration from 7.00 to 11.00 wt.% resulted increasing nanofibers diameter form 77.76 ± 19.44 to 202.42 ± 36.85. The results of X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy show that heat treatments could convert needleless electrospun PAN nanofibers to carbon nanofibers.