Fabrication of one-dimensional colloidal assemblies from electrospun nanofibers

Abstract

Electrospun nanofibers were used as confining geometries for fabricating 1-D colloidal assemblies. Silica particles dispersed in several different polymer solutions were cast into nanofibers by all electrospinning process. The silica particle configurations were examined in terms of the size ratio of silica particles to nanofibers and the properties of the dispersing medium. As the electrospun fiber was extended highly, the silica particles dispersed in the polymer solution began to a:;semble spontaneously into a pearl-necklace structure. We also demonstrated the alignment of 1-D silica assemblies using a designed configuration of collector electrodes.