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. 2022 Feb 26;12(5):797.
doi: 10.3390/nano12050797.

Surface Reconstruction on Electro-Spun PVA/PVP Nanofibers by Water Evaporation

Feipeng Wang  1 , Zheng Zhang  1 , Yuyang Yan  1 , Zijia Shen  1 , Qiang Wang  1 , Reimund Gerhard  2
Affiliations

Surface Reconstruction on Electro-Spun PVA/PVP Nanofibers by Water Evaporation

Feipeng Wang et al. Nanomaterials (Basel). .

Abstract

Tailoring the secondary surface morphology of electro-spun nanofibers has been highly desired, as such delicate structures equip nanofibers with distinct functions. Here, we report a simple strategy to directly reconstruct the surface of polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVA/PVP) nanofibers by water evaporation. The roughness and diameter of the nanofibers depend on the temperature during vacuum drying. Surface changes of the nanofibers from smooth to rough were observed at 55 °C, with a significant drop in nanofiber diameter. We attribute the formation of the secondary surface morphology to the intermolecular forces in the water vapor, including capillary and the compression forces, on the basis of the results from the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopy. The strategy is universally effective for various electro-spun polymer nanofibers, thus opening up avenues toward more detailed and sophisticated structure design and implementation for nanofibers.

Keywords: intermolecular force; surface reconstruction; surface-roughened nanofiber.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Setup of the experimental electrospinning apparatus.
Figure 2
Figure 2
SEM photographs of samples (a) V, (b) VRT-SD, (c) V55-SD, and (d) V95-SD, with nanofiber diameters and surface-roughness values as indicated.
Figure 3
Figure 3
EDX element-distribution maps of samples VRT (top panel) and V55 (bottom panel).
Figure 3
Figure 3
EDX element-distribution maps of samples VRT (top panel) and V55 (bottom panel).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Surface reconstruction process during vacuum drying at various temperatures (Green, blue, orange, and black regions on the fiber represent PVP, PVA, water, and mesh voids, respectively. The green, blue, and orange arrows in the diagram represent the traveling directions of PVP, PVA, and water, respectively).
Figure 5
Figure 5
FTIR spectra of the nanofibers in all 9 differently prepared and treated samples.
Figure 6
Figure 6
XPS spectra of nanofiber samples (Peaks of C, O, N are marked out).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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