What are nanofibers

Nanofibers are linear materials with a diameter of nanoscale and a large length with a certain length-to-diameter ratio. In addition, fibers modified by filling ordinary fibers with nanoparticles are also called nanofibers. In a narrow sense, the diameter of nanofibers is between 1nm and 100nm, but in a broad sense, fibers with a diameter of less than 1000nm are called nanofibers

There are many ways to manufacture nanofibers, such as stretching, template synthesis, self-assembly, microphase separation, electrostatic spinning, etc. Electrospinning is widely used for its advantages of simple operation, wide application range and relatively high production efficiency.

Nanofibers refer to ultra-fine fibers with a diameter of less than 1000 nanometers. Nowadays, many companies refer to fibers filled with nano-sized (less than 100 nm) powders as nanofibers to promote their products.

The thinnest nanofibers are chains of single carbon atoms, and Chinese scientists have been able to produce carbon tubes with a diameter of less than 0.4nm, leading the world. The carbon nanotubes are known as the king of nanomaterials because they are so thin that even normal instruments can't see them. They are super-strong, super-flexible and super-magnetic. Because of the short spacing of carbon atoms in carbon nanotubes, small diameter, so that the fiber structure is not easy to exist defects, its strength is 100 times that of steel, density is only 1/6 of steel, is 200 times the strength of general fiber, using it as a rope can be pulled from the earth to the moon without being broken by its own weight; Carbon nanotubes have both metallic and semiconducting properties, and even different parts of a tube show different electrical properties due to structural changes. Using it as a rectifier tube can replace the silicon chip, and will cause a major change in electronics, can make computers very small; Nanodevices made from carbon nanotubes could be used to assemble nano-robots, mosquito planes, ant tanks and more. Carbon nanotubes can be used as hydrogen storage materials to develop hydrogen into a clean energy source for human services. In addition, carbon nanotubes can also be used as cloaking materials, catalyst carriers and electrode materials. Nanofibers can support the arrangement of nanomechanics, linking them together into large-scale systems.

The main characteristics of nanofibers are:

1. The smaller the size of surface effect particles, the larger the surface area. Due to the lack of coordination of adjacent atoms, the surface energy increases and is extremely unstable, which is easy to combine with other atoms and show strong activity.

2, small size effect when the particle size is small to the wavelength of light wave, conduction electron de Broglie wavelength and superconductivity coherent length transmission depth of approximately or less, its periodic boundary conditions will be destroyed, particles of sound, light, electromagnetic, thermodynamic properties will be changed, such as melting point reduction, color change, absorption of ultraviolet, shielding electromagnetic wave, etc.

3. Quantum size effect When the particle size is small enough, the electron energy level near the Fermi level changes from quasi-continuous to discrete. In this case, the material originally used as a conductor may become an insulator, and vice versa, the insulator may become a superconductor.

4. Macroscopic quantum Yang Tunneling Tunneling is when tiny particles can, under certain circumstances, pass through an object as if there were a tunnel inside.