Electrospinning: Theory and Applications

The needle or nozzle-based electrospinning process has long been explored for its capability to produce unique nanofiber materials with desirable properties, such as high surface area and high porosity. These materials are of interest in a wide range of fields including textiles, filtration, tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, nanocomposites, and alternative-energy generation systems such as solar cells, fuel cells, and energy storage devices. However, one of the perceived drawbacks of the method for industrial purposes is its low production rate. To overcome the low productivity of nozzle-based electrospinning, we consider “free surface electrospinning” (also referred to as “needleless electrospinning”) where electrohydro-dynamic jets self-organize spontaneously on a free liquid surface. The underlying physics and transport phenomena of the electrospinning process is not yet well understood in the existing literature. In this seminar, I will be discussing the different applications of the free surface electrospinning process that my group has investigated. I will also present a transport model for the process that builds on published models by including the effects of energy and mass transport. Additionally, I will speak about my experience of teaching and performing research at a primarily undergraduate institution.