Physical Characterization of Multiwire Polystyrene Produced by Electrospinning Technique

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Polystyrene (PS) is a widely used polymer with diverse applications.
• Understanding the morphology and properties of nanostructured polymers is crucial for developing advanced materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the morphology and optical properties of electrospun multiwire polystyrene (PS).
• To compare the properties of multiwire PS with bulk PS and multiwire PS containing graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles (NPs).
• To investigate the potential applications of the produced multiwire PS.

Main Methods:

• Electrospinning technique for producing multiwire PS.
• Physical characterization including morphology analysis.
• Optical property measurements (IR, UV-Visible transmittance and absorbance).
• Wetting angle measurements to assess surface hydrophobicity.
• Dielectric permittivity measurements as a function of frequency.

Main Results:

• Multiwire PS exhibited enhanced hydrophobicity, with wetting angles up to approximately 144°.
• The hydrophobic nature was further increased by embedding graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles.
• Optical properties in the IR and UV-Visible regions were analyzed.
• Polystyrene demonstrated optimal dielectric properties, with permittivity measured across a range of frequencies.

Conclusions:

• Electrospun multiwire PS, particularly with GO NPs, offers significantly enhanced hydrophobicity.
• The material possesses favorable dielectric properties, indicating its suitability for electronic applications.
• The study highlights the potential of multiwire PS for various technological applications.