In Situ Formation of Nanohybrid Shish-Kebabs during Electrospinning for the Creation of Hierarchical Shish-Kebab Structures

We successfully tested the hypothesis that the nanohybrid shish-kebab (NHSK) structure, i.e., polymer kebabs on a CNT shish, can be created in situ during electrospinning. In addition, the resulting nanofibers containing the NHSKs were used to create a hierarchical structure by introducing a second level of shish-kebabs: the nanofiber shish-kebab (NFSK), i.e., polymer kebabs on the nanofiber shish. A multiwalled CNT/poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (MWCNT)/(PCL) solution was electrospun to form nanofibers of empty set approximate to 100 nm. The MWCNTs aligned in fiber direction within the MWCNT/PCL nanofibers. The first time creation of the NHSK during electrospinning was confirmed by bright field diffraction contrast in the transmission electron microscope. The NFSK was created by incubating the NHSK containing nanofibers in a supersaturated PCL solution. A simple model explaining the in situ NHSK formation is presented. The hierarchical structure based on the shish-kebab morphology is proposed as a high-performing building block in future advanced materials.