ナノファイバー膜－エレクトロスピニングによる 膜の作製とその応用

抄録

Electrospinning is a straightforward and versatile method for forming continuous thin fibers based on an electrohydrodynamic process. This method has the following advantages: (i) applicability for a broad spectrum of molecules, such as inorganic molecules, synthetic polymers, proteins, and DNA; and (ii) ability to produce thin fibers with diameters in the micrometer and nanometer ranges. Electrospun nanofibers or nanofibrous membranes with high surface areas have recently attracted much attention for applications, such as high–performance filter media, protective clothes, composites, drug delivery systems, biomaterial scaffolds for tissue engineering, sensors, and electronic devices. The properties of nanofibers and performances of nanofibrous membranes can be improved by controlling the fiber diameter, surface morphology, and internal structure of nanofibers. For example, by reducing fiber diameter down to nanometer–scale, we can produce the high–performance membranes for air filtration (i.e., high filtration efficiency and low pressure drop) because of aerodynamic slip at the fiber surface. This report describes fundamental aspects of preparation of nanofibrous membranes by electrospinning and their applications such as ion-exchange nanofiber membranes for water treatment and carbon nanofiber membranes for electrodes.