Functionalization of Poly(vinyl alcohol) and Poly(acrylonitrile) polymer fibers mats obtained with Far-Field Electrospinning

Author

Molina Vidal, Carles  

Abstract

Electrospinning has not gained widespread interest as a potential polymer processing technique for applications in drug delivery until the last 5-10 years. This interest can be attributed to electrospinning’s relative ease of use, adaptability, and ability to fabricate fibers with diameters on the nanometer size scale. Submicron poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) fiber mats were prepared by electrospinning of aqueous PVA solutions in 20% concentration. Fiber morphology was observed under a scanning electron microscope and the effect of crosslinking was studied. A comparison between a PVA standard hydrogel and an electrospun PVA mat was carried out analyzing its swelling behavior, drug release, and diffusion behavior.
At the same time, Joule-heating of carbon mats was performed for deposition of tungsten oxide nanoparticles (WO3) by decomposing tungsten hexacarbonyl [W(CO)6] locally onto the carbon mats by Local Chemical Vapor Deposition (LCVD). We prove a method with which might be possible to deposit many desired materials from a volatile precursor at elevated temperatures selectively onto carbon surfaces. The deposition of the coating on the nanofibers fabricated was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) which showed a homogeneous deposition of WO3 on the entire mat.

Director

Borrós i Gómez, Salvador
Cisquella, Albert  

Degree

IQS SE - Master’s Degree in Materials Science and Engineering

Date

2020-07-15