Electrospraying route to nanotechnology: An overview

Electrospraying (electrohydrodynamic spraying) is a method of liquid atomization by means of electrical forces. In electrospraying, the liquid at the outlet of a nozzle is subjected to an electrical shear stress by maintaining the nozzle at high electric potential. The advantage of electrospraying is that droplets can be extremely small, in special cases down to nanometers, and the charge and size of the droplets can be controlled to some extent by electrical means, i.e., by adjusting the flow rate and voltage applied to the nozzle. Due to its properties, electrospraying is considered as an effective route to nanotechnology. The paper considers the latest achievements in micro- and nano-thin-film production, including self-assembled nanostructures, in solid nano-particle generation, and in the formation of micro- and nanocapsules. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.