Project 11: Electrospinning apparatus for production of polymeric nanofibers
Adviser(s):
Ioannis Chasiotis
(Assistant Professor, Aerospace Engineering)
Project description:
Electrospinning is a method for fabricating polymeric nanofibers in a continuous form with diameters ranging from a few tens of nanometers to a few microns. The figure on the left shows the basic principle of electrospinning: a polymer melt or solution is ejected from a capillary toward a metal target by applying high voltage between the capillary and the metal target. As the jet travels toward the target it is solidified after splitting into thinner nanofibers that accumulate on the metal target. In this manner nanofibers can be fabricated in large quantities, at very small cost and with the capability to tune their composition and properties. Such nanostructured materials can then be the basis for advanced composites for aerospace and other applications.
Under an undergraduate summer research program in 2007, the undergraduate student Ryan McDonald (AE, UIUC) built an electrospinning apparatus at our laboratory. The apparatus was very successful in producing aligned electrospun nanofibers. The goal of this undergraduate summer research program in 2008 is to optimize this electrospinning apparatus to manufacture electrospun nanofibers from different polymer melts or solutions.
Student background and expected research activities:
The following tasks will be undertaken by the student who will take part in this research:
- A comprehensive literature review of electrospinning to identify improvements.
- Selection, purchasing, and assembly of components required for improvements of the electrospinning apparatus. If parts require machining at the local machine shop the student is expected to generate simple technical drawings. The student will not be involved in machining parts for the apparatus.
- Operation and optimization of the electrospinning apparatus to fabricate polymer nanofibers.
The student involved in this project should have a basic knowledge of engineering design and simple electrical circuits. The student will interact closely with M. Naraghi, graduate research assistant, and with Prof. Chasiotis.
Fig. 1.: Principle of electrospinning.
Point of contact: Prof. I. Chasiotis at chasioti@illinois.edu
