Chapters authored
Mathematical Modeling of the Relation between Electrospun Nanofibers Characteristics and the Process Parameters
Electrospinning, the most favorable process of obtaining nanofibers, is capable of processing solution or melt polymers, ceramic materials or metals in many morphological variants, thus providing diverse functionalities. The chapter reviews the main ways in which nanofibers’ characteristics can be influenced by solution parameters, process parameters and ambient conditions, afterwards focusing on the role of some of the most significant electrospinning parameters (applied voltage, flow rate, nozzle to collector distance) on the diameter of the nanofibers. Experimental studies to model the influence of process parameters in the case of electrospinning polyetherimide solutions are presented. Response surface methodology and MATLAB simulation software have been used to obtain the mathematical models that indicate the most favorable parameters.
Part of the book: Electrospinning Method Used to Create Functional Nanocomposites Films
Sensors from Electrospun Nanostructures
Nanotechnology exerts a significant influence on materials science, providing new insights into the design of functional materials. One of the most studied areas of nanotechnologies is that of nanofibres, characterised by high specific volume, chemical activity and volume-dependent physical processes. The most promising method of producing nanofibres with various morphologies and functionalities from different materials is electrospinning, where high voltage is applied between the spinneret and the collector to the charged polymer solution (or melt) to draw polymer filaments. This chapter reviews the main electrospinning techniques for producing nanofibres from polymers, provides an overview on the influence of the spinning solution characteristics, the process parameters and the working environment on the process and highlights the many applications of electrospun nanofibres in the field of sensors. Latest advances in this field and the prospects for obtaining new electrospun nanofibre sensors are discussed.
Part of the book: Nanostructures in Energy Generation, Transmission and Storage