Synchronized Surface Modification of TiO2 Composite Nanofiber Through Core-Shell Electrospinning

Abstract

An online surface modification process based on core-shell electrospinning was provided to fabricate functional composite nanofibers. The polyethylene oxide (PEO) solution and titanium dioxide (TiO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> ) suspension were provided through core and shell channel of spinneret respectively to obtain PEO/TiO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> composite nanofibers. The PEO solution was stretched and solidified into nanofibers, and the TiO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> nanoparticles were embedded into the PEO nanofibers. This method provided a good way to increase the distribution ratio of functional nanoparticles on the nanofiber surface. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to confirm the materials component of composite nanofibers. The titanium mass content increased to 3.81 wt% by the core-shell electrospinning. The PEO/TiO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> nanofibers enhanced the ultraviolet resistance furcation. This work demonstrates the possibility and validity of using coaxial electrospinning to modify the fiber surface at the same time of electrospinning process, it gives further insight into preparing composite nanofiber materials.