Year: 2008
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Electrospinning is the process by which an electrically forced elongational fluid jet produces solid fibers. The strong elongational flow in the jet can induce a significant degree of molecular orientation in the resulting fibers, and can also be used to orient and stretch isolated molecules and particles embedded within the jet and resulting fibers. After a brief introduction to electrospinning, I begin with a description of the direct measurement of the velocity profile in an electrospinning jet using particle image velocimetry, and then discuss measurement of the molecular orientation in individual electrospun fibers using polarized Raman micro-spectroscopy. Individual suspended fibers were also characterized using atomic force microscopy to measure their Young?s moduli. I then discuss applications of electrospinning, including the use of electrospinning jets to stretch and embed isolated DNA molecules and the use of sacrificial electrospun fibers to produce nanochannels for fluidic applications. Finally, I conclude with novel electrospinning system designs, including a system that uses electric fields to steer an electrospinning jet and an automated electrospinning source using microfabricated nozzles for improved deposition.
Source: eCommons (Cornell University)
Author: Leon M. Bellan
Language: English
Subfield: Biomaterials
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: STC: The Nanobiotechnology Center, Renewal Proposal for the National Nanofabrication Users Network, Materials Science and Engineering Research Center, MRSEC: Materials Science and Engineering Research Center, G8194721469, MRSEC: Cornell Center for Materials Research, Center for Functional Nanoscale Materials
OpenAlex ID: W102779085