Inorganic Electrospun Nanofibers: A Scalable, Cost Effective Route to Rational Material Design

Cherry Auditorium, Kirk Hall

Nanomaterials have long been investigated due to their very unique and exciting size-dependent properties. These range from quantum-confinement to superparamagnetic behavior, which each can greatly increase the functionality of these materials for various applications. However, many approaches to generate these materials are bound by significant hurdles in processing capabilities and material stability within an application. Here, we present a novel and facile method for generating one-dimensional inorganic nanofibers from a scalable, cost-effective route. Within this context we will present results detailing these nanofibers use in biomass treatment, electrically conductive membrane synthesis, and magnetically active structures. The control of nanomaterial size, location, structure, and morphology are paramount to each of these applications, and it is shown that electrospinning holds a unique ability to control each of these independently. With this capability, it appears as though this process can greatly influence the fields of filtration, catalysis, energy storage, and many others.