Abstract

*These authors contributed equally.Electrospun fibers often exhibit enhanced properties at reduced diameters, a characteristic now widely attributed to a high molecular orientation of the polymer chains along the fiber axis. A parameter that can affect the molecular organization is the type of collector onto which fibers are electrospun. In this work, we use polarized confocal Raman spectromicroscopy to determine the incidence of the three most common types of collectors on the molecular orientation and structure in individual fibers of a broad range of diameters. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) is used as a model system for fibers of weakly crystalline polymers. A clear correlation emerges between the choice of collector, the induced molecular orientation, the fraction of trans conformers, and the degree of crystallinity within fibers. Quantitative structural information gathered by Raman contributes to a general description of the mechanism of action of the collectors based on the additional strain they exert on the forming fibers.

© 2021 The Author(s)

Cost-effective way to improve the optical properties of poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(ethylene terephthalate) light scattering materials: drop coalescence

Xiao Liu, Ziru Zhao, Ying Xiong, Ping Yi, and Shaoyun Guo
Appl. Opt. 57(9) 2107-2114 (2018)

Bead-on-string fibers electrospun from terbium acetylacetonate hydrate doped poly methyl methacrylate

Y. Li, Y. Wang, E. Y. B. Pun, and H. Lin
Opt. Mater. Express 8(2) 276-288 (2018)

Nanofiber drawing and nanodevice assembly in poly(trimethylene terephthalate)

Xiaobo Xing, Yuqing Wang, and Baojun Li
Opt. Express 16(14) 10815-10822 (2008)

Enhancement of light scattering and photoluminescence in electrospun polymer nanofibers

Chun-Ching Chang, Chun-Min Huang, Yi-Hao Chang, and Changshu Kuo
Opt. Express 18(S2) A174-A184 (2010)

Effects of prestrain applied to poly(ethylene terephthalate) substrate on microstructures and morphologies of porous TiO₂ film and optical scattering behaviors of light

Tse-Chang Li, Cheng-Fang Ho, and Jen-Fin Lin
Appl. Opt. 54(4) 816-827 (2015)