Electrospinning: A Fascinating Method for the Preparation of Ultrathin Fibers

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition Vol. 46; no. 30; pp. 5670 - 5703
• Main Authors: Greiner, Andreas, Wendorff, Joachim H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.01.2007; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: electrospinning; nanofibers; nanotubes; nonwovens; polymers
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.200604646

Electrospinning is a highly versatile method to process solutions or melts, mainly of polymers, into continuous fibers with diameters ranging from a few micrometers to a few nanometers. This technique is applicable to virtually every soluble or fusible polymer. The polymers can be chemically modified and can also be tailored with additives ranging from simple carbon‐black particles to complex species such as enzymes, viruses, and bacteria. Electrospinning appears to be straightforward, but is a rather intricate process that depends on a multitude of molecular, process, and technical parameters. The method provides access to entirely new materials, which may have complex chemical structures. Electrospinning is not only a focus of intense academic investigation; the technique is already being applied in many technological areas. Weaving webs: Electrospinning is a highly versatile method for the preparation of polymer and metal nanofibers. Fibers with complex morphologies or specific functions for various applications (for example, filtration, textiles, sensors, optics, catalysis, drug delivery, wound dressings, tissue engineering, and plant protection) can be designed through the selection of suitable systems.