Preparation of continuous porous alumina nanofibers with hollow structure by single capillary electrospinning

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects Vol. 436; pp. 489 - 494
• Main Authors: Liu, Pengchao, Zhu, Yizheng, Ma, Jinghong, Yang, Shuguang, Gong, Jinghua, Xu, Jian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 05.09.2013
• Subjects: Alumina; aluminum; Aluminum oxide; Capillarity; colloids; Crystal structure; Electrospinning; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Fourier transforms; Hollow structure; Infrared spectroscopy; Nanofibers; nitrates; Porous materials; scanning electron microscopy; Sintering (powder metallurgy); temperature; X-ray diffraction; Hollow structure; Electrospinning; Nanofibers; Alumina; Porous materials
• ISSN: 0927-7757; 1873-4359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2013.07.023

Porous alumina nanofibers with hollow structure were fabricated by single-spinneret electrospinning of aluminum nitrate (Al(NO3)3)/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor solution, followed by sintering treatment. A mechanism based on “Kirkendall effect” was proposed to explain the formation process of the hollow structure. •Aluminum nitrate and polyacrylonitrile form spinning solution in DMF.•Transparent spinning solution is stable.•The alumina nanofibers possess porous surfaces and hollow cross sections.•The “Kirkendall effect” mechanism is proposed to explain the formation process. Porous alumina nanofibers with hollow structure were fabricated by single capillary electrospinning of aluminum nitrate (Al(NO3)3)/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor solution, followed by sintering treatment. The Al(NO3)3/PAN composite nanofibers and sintered nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It is found that the obtained alumina nanofibers show porous external surfaces and hollow sections. Upon sintering the composite nanofibers at 1300°C, the nanofibers are consisted of α-phased crystalline grains. Sintering temperature plays an important role in controlling the morphology and crystal structure of the nanofibers. A mechanism based on “Kirkendall effect” was proposed to explain the formation process of the hollow structure.