Preparation and Characterization of Polymeric Nanofibers by Electrospinning

Abstract

Nowadays electrospinning plays an influential role in the scenario of membrane technologies where it reached an active and dynamic stage. This chapter focuses on the fundamentals of the electrospinning process and the effect of the operating conditions on the morphology of the nanofibers. It provides an overview of the physicochemical properties of electrospun membranes and the methodologies for their characterization with a special focus on strategies for tailoring the key features of the membrane. The single spinneret configuration is the simplest setup, presenting just a spinneret/nozzle fed by a peristaltic pump. Coaxial and triaxial electrospinning is an excellent electrospinning approach for the polymers with poor solubility or electrospinnability. The random orientation of formed fibers is an intrinsic feature of the electrospinning process, but it is possible to align the fibers using a specially designed collector. The electrospinning setup with a multi-spinneret nozzle system ensures the process intensification and the scale-up of an optimized electrospinning process.