Study on TiO2 Nanoparticles Distribution in Electrospun Polysulfone/TiO2 Composite Nanofiber

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Young Researchers and Elite Club, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, I.R. IRAN

2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eslamabad-E-Gharb Branch, Islamic Azad University, Eslamabad-E-Gharb, Kermanshah, I.R. IRAN

3 Faculty of Biosciences and Medical Engineering and Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, MALAYSIA

4 Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), University Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, MALAYSIA

Abstract

Composite nanofibers composed of an organic polymer and inorganic nanomaterials have huge potential to be used in different industrial applications. However, the main concern on the use of composite nanofibers is the distribution properties of nanomaterials in the polymeric matrix. The effect of the capillary tip charge on the additive distribution in the electrospun nanofiber has been previously studied and can be found in the literature. In this study, focus is placed on the investigation of TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) distribution in the polysulfone (PSF) nanofiber. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) was conducted to measure the percentage of TiO2 on the surface of the prepared PSF/TiO2 composite nanofiber. The results showed that there was no TiO2 NPs on the surface of the nanofiber for up to 10 nm in depth. TiO2 nanoparticles were mainly found in the center of the nanofiber due to the accumulation of the hydrophobic PSF at the surface of the composite nanofiber. The findings of this work can provide better interpretation of the impact of the interfacial tension on the distribution of the inorganic nanomaterials in the electrospun nanofiber.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

[1] Dorneanu P P., Airinei A., Homocianu M., Olaru N., Photophysical and Surface Characteristics of Electrospun Polysulfone/Nickel Fibers, Materials Research Bulletin, 64: 306-311 (2015).
[2] Ganjkhanlou Y., Bayandori Moghaddam A., Hosseini S., Nazari T., Gazmeh A., Badraghi J., Application of Image Analysis in the Characterization of Electrospun Nanofibers, Iranian Journal of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (IJCCE), 33: 37-45 (2014).
[3] Li Z., Kang H., Che N., Liu Z., Li P., Li W., Zhang C., Cao C., Liu R., Huang Y., Effects of Electrode Reversal on the Distribution of Naproxen in the Electrospun Cellulose Acetate Nanofibers, Journal of Nanomaterials, 2014: 8 (2014).
[4] Ritger P L., Peppas N A., A Simple Equation for dDescription of Solute Release I. Fickian and Non-Fickian Release from Non-Swellable Devices in the form of Slabs, Spheres, Cylinders or Discs, Journal of Controlled Release, 5: 23-36 (1987).
[5] Stachewicz U., Stone C A., Willis C R., Barber A H., Charge Assisted Tailoring of Chemical Functionality at Electrospun Nanofiber Surfaces, Journal of Materials Chemistry, 22: 22935-22941 (2012).
[6] Bonino C A., Efimenko K., Jeong S I., Krebs M D., Alsberg E., Khan S A., Three‐Dimensional Electrospun Alginate Nanofiber Mats via Tailored Charge Repulsions, Small, 8: 1928-1936 (2012).
[7] Pawliszyn J., Sampling and Sample Preparation for Field and Laboratory: Fundamentals and New Directions in Sample Preparation, Elsevier Science (2002).
[8] Beech I B., Corrosion of Technical Materials in the Presence of Biofilms—Current Understanding and State-of-the Art Methods of Study, International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 53: 177-183 (2004).
[9] Yang Y., Wang P., Preparation and Characterizations of a New PS/TiO2 Hybrid Membranes by Sol–Gel Process, Polymer, 47: 2683-2688 (2006).
[10] Zhang L., Gong F., Zhao Q., Ma J., Impact of zeta Potential and Particle Size on TiO2 Nanoparticles’ Coagulation, “2nd International Conference on Civil Engineering and Information Technology”, 83-89 (2012).
[11] Kawakami R., Ito K., Sato Y., Mori Y., Adachi M., Yoshikado S., Evaluation of TiO2 Nanoparticle Thin Films Prepared by Electrophoresis Deposition, Key Engineering Materials, 485: 165-168 (2011).
[12] Ho P H., Katsnelson I., Alan S., Catoinic Charge Modified microporous Membranes, Google Patents, (1993).
[13] Kim S H., Kwak S Y., Sohn B H., Park T H., Design of TiO2 Nanoparticle Self-assembled Aromatic Polyamide Thin-Film-Composite (TFC) Membrane as an Approach to Solve Biofouling Problem, Journal of Membrane Science, 211: 157-165 (2003).

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics