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Diameter Refinement of Electrospun Nanofibers: From Mechanism, Strategies to Applications

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Abstract

Electrospinning has drawn wide attention for its powerful capacity to produce ultrafine nanofibers (UNFs) from various materials. These UNFs demonstrated significantly enhanced performance, such as ultra-high surface area, more porosity and stronger mechanical properties. Here, we comprehensively review their basic principles, state-of-the-art methods and preponderant applications. We begin with a brief introduction to the refinement theory of polymer jets, followed by discussion of factors affecting fiber refinement. We then discuss the refining strategies from the aspects of solution properties, spinning parameters, auxiliary force and post-treatment. Afterward, we highlight the most relevant and recent applications associated with the remarkable features of UNFs, including filtration materials, supercapacitors, biomedical materials and other applications. At the end, we offer perspectives on the challenges, opportunities, and new directions for future development of electrospun UNFs.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Copyright 2016, Elsevier. b A diagram of the linear jet is ejected from the tip of the Taylor cone. c Schematic illustration of the stable-jet length in electrospinning process. d The evolution of jet loses of stability and moves into whipping stage. b and d Reproduced with permission [83]. Copyright 2008, Elsevier. c Reproduced with permission [28]. Copyright 2019, Elsevier

Fig. 3

Copyright 2012, Elsevier. b Preparation of PI and PI-UV ultrafine nanofiber membrane (UFMs) and diameter distribution of the PI and PI-UV UFMs. Reproduced with permission [40]. Copyright 2020, John Wiley and Sans. c Concept for DVT method, showing hypothetical curves of viscosity and the shear stress during electrospinning. Reproduced with permission [37]. Copyright 2019, Springer Nature

Fig. 4

Copyright 2009, John Wiley and Sans. Electric field distributions of line three-needle systems: e without auxiliary plate and f with auxiliary plate. g Comparison of the electric field strength distribution in the y–z plane along y = 25 mm. Reproduced with permission [48]. Copyright 2012, American Chemical Society

Fig. 5

Copyright 2018, Springer Nature. b Schematic of supersonic air-assisted electrospinning setup. c Two-stage stretching of the polymer jet and crystal sheet alignment. In the inset are SEM image and size distribution of PA 6 nanofibers. Reproduced with permission [57]. Copyright 2013, Royal Society of Chemistry. d Schematic of CES setup. Reproduced with permission [60]. Copyright 2020, American Chemical Society. e Schematic diagram and high-speed charge-coupled device camera images of the differences of jet radius and velocity under the driven of CES. Reproduced with permission [68]. Copyright 2014, Elsevier

Fig. 6

Copyright 2013, Elsevier. b Schematic of hot-stretching process. Reproduced with permission [69]. Copyright 2020, John Wiley and Sans

Fig. 7

Copyright 2019, Springer Nature. d Illustration of three-step break mechanism. Reproduced with permission [51]. Copyright 2017, Springer Nature

Fig. 8

Copyright 2020, Elsevier. e Typical SEM images of the nano-nets formed from PVDF solutions. f The fiber diameter distribution. g The NaCl PM0.3, PM1 and PM2.5 removal efficiencies and pressure drop. h The removal efficiencies at different transmittance values. i–l) Snapshot images of PVDF nano-nets at different transparencies. Reproduced with permission [21]. Copyright 2019, Springer Nature

Fig. 9

Copyright 2019, Elsevier. c SEM of carbon N-nets. d Flexibility demonstrations of carbon N-net membrane. CV curves (e) and Nyquist plots (f) of the carbon N-nets. g Cycling performance of carbon N-nets in supercapacitors at a current density of 2 A g–1 (top) and after fatigue test with a bending angle of 180° (bottom). Reproduced with permission [24]. Copyright 2020, Springer Nature

Fig. 10

Copyright 2009, Elsevier. b Impact of type I collagen (Coll I) fibril diameter and pore size on cell morphology and cluster formation. Images show nuclei (blue), Coll I fibrils (white) and actin filaments (green). Reproduced with permission [106]. Copyright 2015, Elsevier

Fig. 11

Copyright 2019, Elsevier. SEM images of PVA/PEDOT: PSS fabricated under (e) traditional electrospinning (20 kV), (f) high pressure airflow assisted electrospinning (70 kV), the fiber diameter distribution on the right. (g and h). The reversible response curves of current–time (I–t) to NH3 concentration of 50 ppm, correspondingly. Reproduced with permission [18]. Copyright 2015, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute

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Acknowledgements

This work was partly supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2232020D-15, 2232020A-08, 2232020G-01, 2232020D-14 and 2232019D3-11) and grants (51773037, 51973027, 51803023, 52003044 and 61771123) from the National Natural Science Foundation of China. This work has also been supported by the Chang Jiang Scholars Program and the Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (2019-01-07-00-03-E00023) to Prof. Xiaohong Qin, the Shanghai Sailing Program (19YF1400700), the Opening Project of State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure (SKL201906SIC), Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CAST and DHU Distinguished Young Professor Program to Prof. Liming Wang.

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  1. Xian Wen and Jian Xiong contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China

    Xian Wen, Jian Xiong, Sailing Lei, Liming Wang & Xiaohong Qin

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  1. Xian Wen
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  2. Jian Xiong
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Correspondence to Liming Wang or Xiaohong Qin.

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Wen, X., Xiong, J., Lei, S. et al. Diameter Refinement of Electrospun Nanofibers: From Mechanism, Strategies to Applications. Adv. Fiber Mater. 4, 145–161 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42765-021-00113-8

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