Interpenetrating-Syncretic Micro-Nano Hierarchy Fibers for Effective Fine Particle Capture

In nature, valuable and essential multilevel hierarchy structures are common in microstructures and macrostructures. Researchers try to emulate these unique structures or obtain inspiration from them. In general, materials with a single structure are easy to prepare but it is difficult to achieve multiple functions or performances simultaneously. Here, a facile method with general applicability and a high yield for preparing interpenetrating-syncretic micro-nanocomposite fibers with a multilevel hierarchy structure via bicomponent electrostatic-centrifugal spinning is introduced. This 3D structure is distinctive and differs from previous micro-nanocomposite structure, in which nanofibers are embedded through microfibers. The formation of a longer, more complex and diversified path is close to undulating surface, mainly because of microfiber introduction. Those characteristics in favor of improving the capture rate of particle on the surface. Two different preparation routes are designed. By controlling the spinning parameters, samples with an outstanding filtering efficiency, a low pressure drop, a high quality factor, an optical transparency, and an excellent impact resistant are constructed. Because the different fiber diameters assume different functions, this work could be used to construct diverse materials by using suitable polymers in other fields that require different fiber sizes and a solid multilevel hierarchy structure to improve the mechanical properties and corresponding performance.