Single-Step Microfluidics-Based Method for Fabrication of Nanoparticle-Coated Functional Microfibers

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Environmental Engineering

Background:

• Nanoparticle-coated fibers have applications in catalysis, biosensing, tissue scaffolding, and water purification.
• Conventional methods for fabricating these fibers are multistep and result in uneven coatings, reducing efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a single-step microfluidics-based approach for producing uniformly nanoparticle-coated microfibers.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of these coated fibers for heavy metal removal in water purification.

Main Methods:

• A microfluidic device was used to deposit magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles onto a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) polymer solution jet.
• Fiber formation occurred via solvent evaporation, resulting in uniform MgO nanoparticle coating.
• The coated fibers were tested for the removal of arsenic (As(III), As(V)), lead (Pb(II)), and cadmium (Cd(II)) from water.

Main Results:

• The microfluidic technique successfully generated microfibers with uniform MgO nanoparticle coatings.
• The MgO-coated fibers demonstrated effective removal of multiple heavy metal contaminants.
• Coated MgO nanoparticles exhibited higher contaminant removal efficiency compared to uncoated nanoparticles, attributed to increased surface area.

Conclusions:

• A facile, single-step microfluidics method enables uniform nanoparticle coating on fibers.
• MgO-coated fibers show significant potential for efficient multi-contaminant water purification.
• This technique is adaptable for coating various nanomaterials onto fibers for diverse applications.