Preparation and Characterization of Electrospun Alumina Nanofibers

POSTER

Abstract

Alumina nanofibers are promising materials for use in high- temperature applications since they are chemically inert up to very high temperatures. Applications include use as catalyst support in high-temperature chemical reactions, fire protection materials, and as a high-temperature insulator. Electrospinning is a relatively simple and inexpensive method for obtaining nanometer-size fibers and has become a popular technique for producing metal-oxide nanofibers in recent years. The electrospinning mixture for the production of alumina nanofibers typically contains aluminum acetate stabilized with boric acid as the alumina precursor; but the observed presence of boron and sodium on the surface of these nanofibers may affect their use as catalytic supports. We have produced alumina nanofibers from an aluminum reagent devoid of the boric acid stabilizer and calcined the fibers at different temperatures to produce nanofibers with different phases of alumina. Characterization of the fibers by TGA, FE-SEM equipped with the XEDS, powder XRD, DRIFTS, and SSNMR methods to determine the fate of the precursors, fiber morphology and the composition and structure of the calcined alumina nanofibers.

Authors

  • Marie J. Pinti

    Department of Physics, John Carroll University

  • Stephen N. Tacastacas

    Department of Physics, John Carroll University

  • Nenad Stojilovic

    Department of Physics, John Carroll University

  • Doug Petkie

    AFRL/RX, AFRL/RX, Systran Systems Inc, UCSD, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Ohio Northern University, BFS, Germany, Florida State University, Monmouth College, Ohio Wesleyan University, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Physics Department, John Carroll University, Department of Chemistry, Knight Chemical Laboratories, The University of Akron, Australian National University, Miami University, Oxford, OH, University of Cincinnati, University of Findlay, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, Cleveland State University, Health Sciences Dept, Cleveland State University, Physics Dept, Cleveland State University, Bucknell University, Wright State University, Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, Wright State University, Department of Physics, University of Puerto Rico, Department of Mechanical Engineer, Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB and UES, Inc., Department of Environmental Science and Policy, School of Science, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, USA, AFRL/711 HPW, EPA Sustainable Technology Division, University of Akron, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Harvard University, LSU, Ohio University, Wittenberg University, Student

  • Doug Petkie

    AFRL/RX, AFRL/RX, Systran Systems Inc, UCSD, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Ohio Northern University, BFS, Germany, Florida State University, Monmouth College, Ohio Wesleyan University, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Physics Department, John Carroll University, Department of Chemistry, Knight Chemical Laboratories, The University of Akron, Australian National University, Miami University, Oxford, OH, University of Cincinnati, University of Findlay, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, Cleveland State University, Health Sciences Dept, Cleveland State University, Physics Dept, Cleveland State University, Bucknell University, Wright State University, Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, Wright State University, Department of Physics, University of Puerto Rico, Department of Mechanical Engineer, Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB and UES, Inc., Department of Environmental Science and Policy, School of Science, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, USA, AFRL/711 HPW, EPA Sustainable Technology Division, University of Akron, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Harvard University, LSU, Ohio University, Wittenberg University, Student

  • Matthew P. Espe

    Department of Chemistry, Knight Chemical Laboratories, The University of Akron