Bioinspired Superwettability Electrospun Micro/Nanofibers and Their Applications

Abstract

Inspired by the self‐cleaning phenomenon in nature biology, superwettable materials systems have been increasingly studied by multidisciplinary scientists in past two decades. Among various fabrication methods, electrospinning technology, with superior capability of comprehensive coordination of surface chemical composition and hierarchical micro/nanostructures, has been proved to be a versatile method to fabricate diverse fibrous materials with superwettability from polymers, ceramics, to composites. This review first introduces the progress of electrospinning technology in generating various hierarchical structured nanofibers. Then, the wetting theory of liquid on fibers and recent approaches toward fabricating bioinspired electrospun micro/nanofibers with superwettability are described. Based on the special wettability to different liquids, the electrospun nanofibrous materials play significant roles in liquid mixtures separations, water collection, unidirectional liquid penetrations, and in environmentally responsive materials. Finally, the challenges and promising prospects on electrospun superwettability nanofibrous materials are highlighted.

Bioinspired Superwettability Micro/Nanoarchitectures: Fabrications and Applications

“…Superhydrophobic and omniphobic surfaces have been fabricated by electrospinning hydrophobic polymer solutions ( Figure ), such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polystyrene (PS), fluorodecyl polyhedral oligometric silsesquioxane (POSS), and PANI . The nanofibers interweave into a membrane with the desired roughness and chemical hydrophobicity, which leads to omniphobicity.…”

“…Among these sources of inspiration, biological systems with special wettability have been investigated most extensively . Examples of naturally occurring superwettability structures are plentiful, such as the lotus leaf, rose petals, the compound eyes of the mosquito, the legs of the water strider, the back of the desert beetle, the wings of butterflies, and the pitcher plant, to name a few.…”

Micro‐/Nanostructured Interface for Liquid Manipulation and Its Applications

“…Electrospinning is a conventional and broadly employed method to fabricate micro‐/nanostructured fibers of polymers, ceramics, semiconductors and composites with diameters ranging from a few nanometers to several micrometers (usually between 50 and 500 nm) . In an electrospinning process, a high voltage (>5 kV) is applied between solution and a counter electrode to produce a repulsive force within the solution that overcomes its surface tension, forcing the solution to pass through the tip of a spinneret, and a grounded plate was used to collect the fibers .…”

A Fluffy Dual‐Network Structured Nanofiber/Net Filter Enables High‐Efficiency Air Filtration

“…Nanofiber‐based filters, as the forefront of advanced air filters, show advantages of lower material/energy consumption and prolonged service life . To prepare these nanofiber filters, in contrast to other methods, electrospinning has evoked substantial attention, considering its ability to prepare nanofibers with uniform diameter, robust mechanical property, and fine flexibility . To date, many kinds of electrospun nanofibers from different polymers have been produced as air filters, and exhibit enhanced removal efficiency, lower thickness, and lighter base weight compared to their counterparts .…”