Bimodal fiber diameter distributed graphene oxide/nylon-6 composite nanofibrous mats via electrospinning

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects Vol. 407; pp. 121 - 125
• Main Authors: Pant, Hem Raj, Park, Chan Hee, Tijing, Leonard D., Amarjargal, Altangerel, Lee, Do-Hee, Kim, Cheol Sang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 05.08.2012
• Subjects: colloids; Electrospinning; formic acid; graphene; Graphene oxide; hydrogen bonding; ionization; Nanocomposite; nanofibers; Nylon-6; polymers; Spider-wave; Electrospinning; Graphene oxide; Nanocomposite; Spider-wave; Nylon-6
• ISSN: 0927-7757; 1873-4359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2012.05.018

[Display omitted] ► Large scale fabrication of spider-wave-like nano-nets of nylon-6 was carried out by adding suitable amounts of GO. ► The mechanism of formation of bimodal fibers which differs by one order in their diameter was proposed. ► The suitable amounts of GO required to fabricate bimodal spider-wave-like nano-nets was investigated. In this work, nylon-6 spider-wave-like nano-nets are fabricated by regulating the amount of graphene oxide (GO) in polymer solution during electrospinning. The spider-wave-like nano-nets that comprise interlinked thin (≈14nm diameter) and thick fibers (≈192nm diameter) are widely distributed throughout the mat when suitable amount of GO is blended with nylon-6 solution. The heterogeneous composite mats were composed of bimodal nanofibers in which pore diameter was sufficiently decreased. The acceleration in ionization and degradation of nylon-6 (due to formic acid) solution caused by well-dispersed GO sheet as well as the formation of hydrogen bond between nylon-6 molecules and GO sheet during electrospinning are proposed as the possible mechanisms for the formation of these spider-wave-like nano-nets.