Nanosized SnO2 Prepared by Electrospinning: Influence of the Polymer on Both Morphology and Microstructure

Abstract

An electrospinning (ES) procedure of polymeric solutions containing metal oxide precursors, followed by thermal treatments, was exploited to obtain SnO2 nanofibers. Attention was focused on the effect of different templating polymers (polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc)) on the morphologies and particle size distributions of SnO2. We demonstrated that with different polymers, the final oxide’s morphology and crystallite size change. Defined fibers, with homogeneous diameter, were obtained with each polymer, but, after calcination, the morphology of the oxide changes, leading to fibers, “flakes” or “sphere-shaped” particles when PVP, PEO or PVAc were used, respectively, as evidenced by SEM images. Data from HR-TEM and XRD measurements confirm that SnO2 samples consist of crystalline cassiterite, with small mean particle dimensions calculated by Debye–Scherrer equation, i.e., 30, 11 and 25 nm with PVP, PEO and PVAc, respectively. TEM measurements put in evidence lower average particle sizes and for SnO2 obtained with PEO average size of 8.5 nm with a standard deviation of ± 4.9 nm was evidenced. By applying different calcination temperatures on fiber mat obtained by the same polymer, i.e., PEO, the influence of polymer not only on the final shape of the oxide particles but also on the crystallite size was definitively demonstrated.

Hybrid Nanofibrous Membranes as a Promising Functional Layer for Personal Protection Equipment: Manufacturing and Antiviral/Antibacterial Assessments

“…Electrospun nanofibers are promising candidates for many applications such as sensors [ 8 ], electronics [ 9 ], and biomedical field [ 10 ]. There are several methods of the electrospinning for generating new functional hybrids like, single-fluid process [ 11 ], coaxial [ 12 ], tri-axial, modified triaxial, side-by-side [ 13 ], multiple-fluid [ 14 ], and solid needle and needleless processes. These methods are mainly describing how to guide the polymer solutions into the electrical fields in elaborate manners for creating polymer-based nanohybrids.…”

Cyclodextrins as a Templating Agent in Solvent-Free Kneading-Based Syntheses of Nanosized SnO2 and ZnO

“…38,39 Unfortunately, toxic solvents are present in most of the processes: the recovery and reuse are often expensive, and the disposal is a major concern. The process reported in our previous article 19 for obtaining oxides with electrospinning involves as well the use of dimethylformamide as a solvent for the preparation of the polymeric solution to be electrospun.…”

Elastic Nanofibrous Membranes for Medical and Personal Protection Applications: Manufacturing, Anti-COVID-19, and Anti-Colistin Resistant Bacteria Evaluation

“…Electrospinning can be used in a variety of ways to create new functional hybrids. For example, single-fluid processes [39], coaxial [40], tri-axial, modified triaxial, side-byside [41], multiple-fluid [42], solid needle processes, and needleless processes are all about guiding polymer solutions into electrical fields in intricate ways to create polymer-based nanohybrids. Electrospinning potential to generate new functional hybrids can be extended by nano suspensions of filament-forming polymers including inorganic nanoparticles.…”