Fabrication and characterization of multifunctional nanofiber nanocomposite structures through co-electrospinning process.

摘要

Nanotechnology is a rapidly growing multidisciplinary field of research incorporating various divisions including nanofiber technology wherein fibrous materials are fabricated at nano scale. Materials in nanofiber form not only lead to superior functions but also provide a method to deliver functions to higher order structures. Electrospinning is an attractive process capable of producing polymeric fibers having diameters ranging from nano to sub micron level. Nanofibers produced by electrospinning can be reinforced by particles to fabricate a composite with unique and tailor made properties. If the particles used for the reinforcement are at nano scale as well then the reinforcement effect can be greatly enhanced. An attempt was made in this thesis to use polymeric nanofibers as a medium to transfer properties of nanoparticles. Two unique nanoparticles, quantum dots and magnetic nanoparticles were selected to generate nanocomposites. Cadmium sulfide quantum dots were co-electrospun with polyethylene oxide for the production of fluorescence nanofiber composite. The results suggested successful transfer of optical properties from quantum dots to polyethylene oxide nanofibers. The iron oxide nanoparticles were co-electrospun with poly vinylidene fluoride tetrafluro ethylene. The results suggested that nanocomposite nanofibers showed strong superparamagnetic properties. This phenomenon opens the door to a practical means of connecting nanostructured materials to macroscopic structures.