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Coaxial electrospun poly(methyl methacrylate)-polyacrylonitrile nanofibers: atomic force microscopy and compositional
Nicole E Zander1, Kenneth E Strawhecker, Joshua A Orlicki
1US Army Research Laboratory, Weapons and Materials Research Directorate, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21005, United States. nicole.e.zander.civ@mail.mil
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B
|September 21, 2011
Summary
Researchers created core-shell fibers from poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) using electrospinning. Dissolving the PMMA core resulted in hollow PAN fibers, a novel material for various applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Core-shell nanofibers offer unique properties for advanced applications.
- Electrospinning is a versatile technique for fabricating polymer fibers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prepare and characterize poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-polyacrylonitrile (PAN) core-shell fibers.
- To demonstrate the creation of hollow PAN fibers by selective core removal.
Main Methods:
- Single-nozzle electrospinning of PMMA-PAN blends.
- Morphological analysis using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).
- Chemical composition analysis via X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and elemental analysis.
Main Results:
- As-spun fibers confirmed to possess a core-shell structure.
- PAN identified as the shell component and PMMA as the core component.
- Successful fabrication of hollow PAN fibers after solvent-induced removal of the PMMA core.
Conclusions:
- PMMA-PAN core-shell fibers can be effectively prepared via electrospinning.
- Selective dissolution of the PMMA core yields hollow PAN nanofibers.
- This method provides a pathway to novel hollow fiber architectures for potential applications.
