Ordered Structures

The chaotic movement of the electrospinning jet generally gives rise to a nonwoven mesh of nanofibers. While this structure can be used as filter membrane, other applications may demand more ordered arrangement of nanofibers. Electrospinning is one of the few nanotechnologies that are able to exert some control over the nanofiber arrangement. The main controls over fiber arrangement are the mechanical movement, electric field and through precision electrospinning. These controls are not mutually exclusive and can be used in tandem to gain better control of the nanofiber structure outcome.

Portion of the nanofibrous tube showing oblique fiber alignment (Teo W E et al. Nanotechnology 2005; 16: 918. © Copyright (2005) IOP Publishing Ltd. http://www.iop.org.).	SEM image of nanofibers bundle showing excellent alignment (Teo W E et al. Nanotechnology 2005; 16: 1878. © Copyright (2005) IOP Publishing Ltd. http://www.iop.org.).