10/29/2010
Unconfined fluid electrospun into high quality nanofibers from a plate edge 
(4928-4936) Polymer 51 #21 (2010)
Thoppey et al of North Carolina State University found an easily-implemented, edge-plate geometry for electrospinning and produced high quality nanofibers from unconfined polymer fluids. The electric field gradient, not just the electric field amplitude, is a critical parameter for successful self-initiated jetting. Considering a single spinning site, the edge-plate configuration resulted in the same or a higher fabrication rate as traditional needle electrospinning, while producing nanofibers similar in quality (diameter, diameter distribution, and collected mat porosity); moreover, this novel configuration operates without the possibility of clogging and has high potential for scale-up.  The edge-plate configuration functions in a remarkably similar manner to traditional needle electrospinning.  (RDC 12/19/2010)