Spectroscopic Investigation of Electrospun Nanofibers

静电纺纳米纤维的光谱研究

• 批准号: RGPIN-2015-04014
• 负责人: Pellerin, Christian
• 金额: $ 3.28万
• 依托单位: Université de Montréal
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=661848
• 关键词: Spectroscopic; Investigation; Electrospun; Nanofibers

My group studies the structure and properties of soft materials (polymers, supramolecular assemblies and molecular glasses) and develops advanced spectroscopy techniques (such as polarized Raman and time-resolved infrared spectroscopy). Our experience and world-leading infrastructure provide us a unique opportunity to make innovative contributions in the field of electrospinning. *** Electrospinning is an extremely popular method for producing nanofibers thanks to its experimental simplicity and amazing versatility. Electrospun fibers are currently used in selective membranes, tissue engineering and other biomedical applications, but there is a growing interest in applying them for technological applications in sensors, energy conversion, catalysis and opto-electronic devices. Unfortunately, our understanding of the structure and properties of nanofibers, and how they are affected by the electrospinning process, remains fragmentary. Molecular orientation is often invoked as a critical parameter but it is challenging to quantify. My group has recently demonstrated the power of vibrational spectroscopy at the individual fiber scale to do this quantification and answer other important questions in the field.*** In this context, my program seeks to understand and control the structure and properties of electrospun fibers using state-of-the-art vibrational spectroscopy. We will study five key aspects of electrospun fibers, with the specific objectives of: 1) Understanding molecular orientation in fibers and its impact on their properties; 2) Demonstrating and controlling disentanglement of polymer chains during electrospinning; 3) Enabling a deeper understanding of electrospinning through time-resolved infrared studies; 4) Understanding why and where polymorphs form during electrospinning; and 5) Understanding the effect of blending on fiber microstructure. To reach these ambitious objectives, we will use our workhorse Raman technique in combination with IR spectroscopy, including the first nanoIR instrument in Canada, and various complementary techniques.*** Our research is innovative and could not be conducted elsewhere in the world. It should greatly improve the current understanding of the structure in electrospun fibers and their unusual properties when they reach the nanoscale. It will allow confirming and explaining possibly transformative observations, such as partial disentanglement and polymorph formation. Our work will also lead to significant instrumental developments in vibrational spectroscopy that will be applicable to other fields of materials science. Overall, our work will improve our ability to optimize the properties of nanofibers and contribute to making their promising technological applications a reality.**

我的小组研究软材料（聚合物、超分子组装体和分子玻璃）的结构和性能，并开发先进的光谱技术（例如偏振拉曼和时间分辨红外光谱）。我们的经验和世界领先的基础设施为我们提供了独特的机会，在静电纺丝领域做出创新贡献。 *** 静电纺丝因其实验简单性和惊人的多功能性而成为一种非常流行的纳米纤维生产方法。静电纺丝纤维目前用于选择性膜、组织工程和其他生物医学应用，但人们越来越有兴趣将其应用于传感器、能量转换、催化和光电设备等技术应用。不幸的是，我们对纳米纤维的结构和性能以及静电纺丝过程如何影响它们的理解仍然是零散的。分子取向通常被认为是一个关键参数，但很难量化。我的团队最近展示了振动光谱在单个纤维尺度上进行量化并回答该领域的其他重要问题的能力。*** 在这种情况下，我的项目旨在使用最先进的振动光谱。我们将研究静电纺纤维的五个关键方面，具体目标是： 1）了解纤维中的分子取向及其对其性能的影响； 2) 演示和控制静电纺丝过程中聚合物链的解缠结； 3）通过时间分辨红外研究能够更深入地了解静电纺丝； 4) 了解静电纺丝过程中多晶型物形成的原因和地点； 5) 了解混纺对纤维微观结构的影响。为了实现这些雄心勃勃的目标，我们将使用我们的主力拉曼技术与红外光谱相结合，包括加拿大的第一台纳米红外仪器，以及各种补充技术。***我们的研究是创新的，在世界其他地方无法进行。它应该会极大地提高目前对电纺纤维结构及其达到纳米级时的不寻常特性的理解。它将允许确认和解释可能的变革性观察结果，例如部分解缠和多晶型物形成。我们的工作还将导致振动光谱学的重大仪器发展，这将适用于材料科学的其他领域。总的来说，我们的工作将提高我们优化纳米纤维性能的能力，并有助于使其有前景的技术应用成为现实。**