Spectroscopic Investigations on Polystyrene-Polyvinylidene Fluoride Nanofibers

Polystyrene-Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PS-PVDF) nanofibers have been obtained by force spinning. To achieve this goal, the two homopolymers have been dissolved in a common solvent (dimethylformamide). The obtained solution was homogenized by stirring at about 1,000 rpm for several hours, followed by a 30 minutes sonication. The homogeneous solution was force spun at room temperature, in the air, at various spinning rates ranging from 1,000 rpm to 10,000 rpm. Nanofibers of PS-PVDF blends containing various fractions of PVDF (ranging between 0 and 60 % wt.) have been obtained and collected as mats. The obtained mats were investigated by Raman spectroscopy and Wide-Angle X-Ray Scattering. The presence of both homopolymers has been confirmed. The distribution of the nanofibers diameters and their dependence of spinning rate, solution concentration, and PVDF fraction was derived from microscopy studies. Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy was used to generate a map of fluorine atoms and to better understand the morphology of these nanofibers. Additional contact angle measurements have been performed. The range of solutions' concentrations and PVDF fractions for which submicron polymer blend fibers have been obtained will be discussed in detail.