Simultaneous electrospinning and electrospraying: a straightforward approach for fabricating hierarchically
Nicolas Lavielle1, Anne Hébraud, Guy Schlatter
1Institut de Chimie et Procédés pour l'Energie, l'Environnement et la Santé, ICPEES-UMR7515, Université de Strasbourg , CNRS, Institut Carnot MICA, Ecole Européenne de Chimie, Polymères et Matériaux, 25 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg, cedex 2, France.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|October 9, 2013
Summary
A novel method enables micropatterning of composite membranes using simultaneous electrospraying and electrospinning. This technique creates hierarchical honeycomb structures with tunable pore sizes for advanced applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Developing advanced membranes with controlled microstructures is crucial for various applications.
- Existing methods for membrane fabrication often lack precise control over hierarchical organization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a simple, simultaneous electrospraying and electrospinning method for micropatterning nonwoven composite membranes.
- To investigate the self-organization mechanism and control over pattern dimensions.
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous electrospraying of microparticles (polyethylene glycol) and electrospinning of nanofibers (poly(D,L-lactide)) onto a common support.
- Analysis of self-organization into honeycomb structures and dependence on composite thickness.
- Control of pattern dimensions by adjusting electrospraying flow rate.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated formation of hierarchical honeycomb-like structures through self-organization.
- Identified particle aggregates and non-uniform electrostatic fields as critical for composite formation.
- Achieved control over pattern dimensions by tuning electrospraying parameters.
- Fabricated membranes with multilevel porous structures (micrometer to hundreds of micrometers).
Conclusions:
- The developed method offers a simple route to micropatterned composite membranes with hierarchical structures.
- Selective leaching of microparticles allows for monocomponent membranes while preserving hierarchical organization.
- The resulting membranes are suitable for biomedical and filtration applications.
