Abstract
In this study, we have successfully fabricated electrospun polystyrene (PS) nanofibers having a diameter of 326 ± 50 nm with a parallel grooved texture using a mixed solvent of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). We discovered that solvent system, solution concentration, and relative humidity were the three key factors to the formation of grooved texture and the diameter of nanofibers. We demonstrated that grooved nanofibers with desired properties (e.g., different numbers of grooves, widths between two adjacent grooves, and depths of grooves) could be electrospun under certain conditions. When THF/DMF ratio was higher than 2:1, the formation mechanism of single grooved texture should be attributed to the formation of voids on the jet surface at the early stage of electrospinning and subsequent elongation and solidification of the voids into a line surface structure. When THF/DMF ratio was 1:1, the formation mechanism of grooved texture should be ascribed to the formation of wrinkled surface on the jet surface at the early stage of electrospinning and subsequent elongation into a grooved texture. Such findings can serve as guidelines for the preparation of grooved nanofibers with desired secondary morphology.
Highlights
Electrospinning has been regarded as the most effective and versatile technology to produce nanofibrous nonwovens with controlled fiber morphology, dimensions, and functional components from various polymeric materials
When THF/DMF ratio was higher than 2:1, as schematically illustrated in Figure 7D, the formation mechanism should be attributed to the formation of voids on the jet surface at the early stage of electrospinning and subsequent elongation and solidification of the voids into a line surface structure [15]
When THF/DMF ratio was 1:1, the formation mechanism should be ascribed to the formation of wrinkled surface on the jet surface at the early stage of electrospinning and subsequent elongation into a line surface structure
Summary
Electrospinning has been regarded as the most effective and versatile technology to produce nanofibrous nonwovens with controlled fiber morphology, dimensions, and functional components from various polymeric materials. We have reported the fabrication of cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) and PS fibers with a parallel line surface texture via electrospinning using a mixed solvent system consisting of a highly volatile solvent (e.g., acetone) and a nonvolatile organic solvent [15,16]. These grooved fibers have shown a great potential in the area of tissue engineering and superhydrophobic surfaces. How to fabricate grooved fibers with controlled diameters and groove properties (e.g., number of grooves, width between two adjacent grooves, and depth of grooves) is still a challenge, which hampers the further development and applications of grooved nanofibers
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