Polymer nanofibers via nozzle-free centrifugal spinning.

Weitz, R T; Harnau, L; Rauschenbach, S; Burghard, M; Kern, K · Nano Lett · 2008

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We report on the unexpected finding of nanoscale fibers with a diameter down to 25 nm that emerge from a polymer solution during a standard spin-coating process. The fiber formation relies upon the Raleigh-Taylor instability of the spin-coated liquid film that arises due to a competition of the centrifugal force and the Laplace force induced by the surface curvature. This procedure offers an attractive alternative to electrospinning for the efficient, simple, and nozzle-free fabrication of nanoscale fibers from a variety of polymer solutions.