Large-Scale Synthesis of Tin-Doped Indium Oxide Nanofibers Using Water as Solvent

Abstract

Here we report the successful fabrication of tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) nanofibers using a scalable Forcespinning™ method. In this environmentally-friendly process, water was used as the only solvent for both Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP, the sacrificial polymer) and the metal chloride precursor salts. The obtained precursor nanofiber mats were calcinated at temperatures ranging from 500–800°C to produce ITO nanofibers with diameters as small as 400 nm. The developed ITO nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis.

A comparative study of jet formation in nozzle‐ and nozzle‐less centrifugal spinning systems

“…Lozano and Sarkar well developed this technology named Forcespinning TM16 by means of which some materials that were hard to spin by electrospinning or other approaches can be successfully forcespun in nanometer range, such as Polycaprolactone, 7 Polyvinylidene Fluoride, 17 Poly(2,5-bis(2 0ethyl-hexyl)-1,4-phenylenevinylene)/Polyethylene oxide; Polyacrylonitrile; Polyamide 6 BEH-PPV/PEO, 18 PAN, 19 PA6, 20 Polypropylene, 21 and indium tin oxide. 22 In addition, highlyaligned and beaded-free nanofibers can be produced as it was combined with electric field 1,23,24 or pressurized spinneret. 25 Wang et al (2010) 26 utilized the centrifugal spinning to fabricate polymeric nanofibers assembly and obtained a fluffy 3D scaffold for cell culture, which showed its application potentials for large volume cell proliferation.…”

Development of hierarchical structured carbon nanotube‐nylon nanofiber mats

“…Recently, the development of forcespinning ® (FS) technology has gained momentum as a promising method to develop large scale production of nanofibers (NFs) from a variety of materials. FS utilizes centrifugal force to extrude polymer solutions or melts to create fine fibers in the absence of electric fields . Fiber jets are formed by high rotational speeds (0−20,000 rpm) of a spinneret using a nozzle.…”

“…The production rate of lab scale FS equipment is over 1 g min −1 per nozzle, which is extremely higher than lab scale electrospinning (0.3 g h −1 ). Several materials have been successfully spun into fibers, such as poly(vinyl alcohol), pullulan, polyacrylonitrile, poly(methyl methacrylate), polyvinyl butyral, polycaprolactone, and indium‐tin oxide to mention some.…”

Mass production of carbon nanotube‐reinforced polyacrylonitrile fine composite fibers

“…The absence of electric fields opens up opportunities for low cost fibers with a much broader choice of materials . Several systems have been recently produced either from solution or melt, such as polyamide, polyethylene oxide, polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, polypropylene, ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene, (2,5‐bis(2′‐ethyl‐hexyl)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene), poly(3′‐hexylthiophene (P3HT), Teflon®AF, cellulose, poly(vinylidene fluoride), and indium‐tin oxide to mention some. All of the above have produced average fiber diameters in the nano or submicron range.…”

“…When the centrifugal force and associated hydrostatic pressure exceed capillary forces that tend to restrict the flow of fluid in the orifice, a jet of polymer solution is ejected. Reduction of fiber diameter occurs by the inertial drag between the fiber and the atmosphere as the jet dries . The phenomenon of centrifugal force‐based spinning is familiar to anyone that has observed cotton candy being made, there are few reports demonstrating its capabilities as a fiber manufacturing technology.…”