Electrospun ceramic fibers: Composition, structure and the fate of precursors

• Published in: Applied surface science 2008-06, Vol.254 (16), p.4925-4929
• Main Authors: Tuttle, R.W., Chowdury, A., Bender, E.T., Ramsier, R.D., Rapp, J.L., Espe, M.P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ceramics; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Electron and ion emission by liquids and solids; impact phenomena; Electrospinning; Exact sciences and technology; Fibers; FTIR; Infrared and Raman spectra; Infrared and raman spectra and scattering; Materials science; NMR; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Other materials; Photoemission and photoelectron spectra; Physics; Polymers and plastics; rubber; synthetic and natural fibers; organometallic and organic materials; SEM; Solid surfaces and solid-solid interfaces; Specific materials; Surface structure and topography; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); XPS
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2007.12.068

Fibers are electrospun from aluminum acetate/polymer mixtures and characterized by an array of techniques before and after annealing at 1200 °C. We demonstrate that sodium and boron present in the initial starting materials as adducts and stabilizers remain incorporated into the resulting fibers after annealing and pyrolysis of the host polymer. The influence of these minor constituents on the surfaces of the fibers is suggested by infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic data. The presence of these species may impact potential chemical applications of small diameter ceramic fibers, such as their use as catalytic supports or for chemical decomposition.