This document discusses a study on the effects of a rotating and translating target on the alignment of electrospun nanofibers. The study aimed to determine if using a rotational and translational target during electrospinning would produce more uniformly aligned fibers compared to non-aligned electrospinning. The procedure involved electrospinning nanofibers with and without target rotation/translation. The fibers were then characterized and analyzed to evaluate if rotational electrospinning better aligned the fibers. Future work is proposed to calcine the fibers to isolate palladium shells deposited on them during sputtering, and later determine the fibers' potential for sensor applications.

1. Translational And Rotational
Target Effect On Electrospun
Nanofibers
José A. Cruz-Arzón
Edwin J. Alvarado
Dr. Wilfredo Otaño
Mr. Brian Vélez
Ms. Claudia Colón

2. Introduction
 What is a nanofiber?
 Fiber with diameter less than 100 nm.
 Why use a nanofiber?
 high surface-to-volume ratio, high porosity, improved
physicochemical properties
 Electrospinning
 Electrostatic production of fibers.
Aligned Electrospinning (Katta et al. 2004)

5. Problem
 Does having a rotating and translating target affect the
alignment of electrospun nanofibers?
Objective
 To determine effect of aligned electrospinning on
nanofibers.
Hypothesis
 Having rotational and x-translational target will produce
uniform fibers.

6. Procedure Overview
 Non-aligned electrospun nanofiber synthesis.
 Characterized for comparison with previously
synthetized aligned electrospun nanofibers.

7. Electrospinning
 The solution will run from the anode (syringe to the
cathode
 1ml of the 3% PEO / 95% ethanol stock solution
electrospun at 0.50ml/hour at 20.0 KV

8. Sputtering
 The atoms of the target deposit on the substrate by
diffusion and electrical conductivity.
 The metal will deposit on the fiber, forming a thin pellicle
or film denominated “shell”.

9. Non-Aligned Electrospinning + Pd Aligned Electrospinning + Pd
Results

10. Future Work
 Fibers calcination for 2 hours at 325 ºC, evaporating the
fibers thus isolating the Palladium shells.
 Future determination of sensor prowess.

11. Aligned Electrospinning + Pd + 325 ºC
Calcination
“shells”

12. References
1. Katta P, Alessandro M, Ramsier R D, Chase GG. 2004.
Continuous electrospinning of aligned polymer nanofibers
onto a wire drum collector. Nano Lett [Internet]. 4(11):2215-8.

13. QUESTIONS?