Electrospining: Coaxial electrospinning: design, characterization, mechanistic insights and emerging applications in solar cells

Background

Coaxial electrospinning has emerged as a versatile and powerful technique in the field of nanofiber fabrication, providing unique capabilities for the design, characterization, and mechanistic insights of advanced materials. This innovative process involves the simultaneous extrusion of two or more concentrically arranged polymer solutions or melts through a coaxial spinneret to form nanofibers with a core-shell structure. Over the years, this method has attracted great attention due to its inherent advantages in tailoring material properties at the nanoscale. This is due to their adaptable architecture, large specific surface area, and unique properties. In order to be applied in fields such as catalysis, energy storage, medicine, filtration, and sensing, these nanofibers must possess certain functional properties.

The main point of this paper

Basic principle:

Coaxial electrospinning controls the coaxial non-mixed jet by changing the needle shape, involving polymers and various additives, from simple oils or particles to immiscible solutions.

Multi-structure fiber manufacturing:

Coaxial electrospinning is able to prepare fibers with various structures, such as hollow fibers, side-by-side fibers, multi-core-shell fibers, multi-channel fibers, and superporous fibers.

Application areas:

This technology has stimulated a wide range of interests in the fields of biomaterials, drug delivery, efficient absorption and catalysis, energy materials, sensors, etc.

Photocatalytic applications:

Coaxial electrospinning technology in photocatalysis focuses on improving the photocatalytic efficiency of titanium dioxide (TiO2) fibers, allowing the preparation of materials with different morphologies and frameworks.

Wearable electronics:

Nano/ultrafine fiber membranes made using electrospinning technology can be used in wearable electronics, with high surface area, high porosity, and mechanical properties suitable for various human applications.

Solar cell technology:

Coaxial electrospinning is widely used in solar cell technology, especially showing great potential in improving the performance and efficiency of photovoltaic devices

Coaxial electrospinning technology: design principles, characterization, mechanism and application in solar cells

Core-Shell Nanofiber Structures:

Coaxial electrospinning is known for its unique ability to produce core-shell nanofiber structures, and its design complexity and parameter effects have been carefully studied.

Characterization Techniques:

The review clarifies the characterization techniques used to evaluate the morphological, structural, and functional properties of coaxial electrospun fibers, providing a comprehensive understanding of the process and its resulting materials.

Physical and Chemical Control Mechanisms:

The mechanistic insights section dissects the underlying physical and chemical factors controlling coaxial electrospinning, revealing the complexity of fluid dynamics, interfacial interactions, and phase separation.

Control of the process for customized applications:

In-depth analysis helps understand the key factors affecting fiber morphology and composition, facilitating informed control of the process for customized applications.

Emerging Applications in Solar Cell Technology:

The review highlights the versatility of coaxial electrospinning in making photovoltaic device materials with superior functionality, including enhanced charge transport properties, optimized light absorption, and design of advanced electrode structures.

Revolutionary Technology:

Coaxial electrospinning is a revolutionary technology that contributes to the continuous advancement of solar energy harvesting

Summarize

In summary, this review of coaxial electrospinning technology reveals its great potential in the field of solar cell technology. Through meticulous design, comprehensive characterization, and deep mechanistic insights, researchers have made significant progress in leveraging the unique properties of core-sheath fibers to enhance solar cell performance. The synergistic combination of materials in the core-sheath fibers provides customized functionality to precisely control the morphology, composition, and performance of the resulting solar cell devices. By optimizing parameters such as polymer type, solvent system, and processing conditions, researchers can fine-tune the key properties of the core-sheath fibers to meet the specific requirements of a variety of solar cell structures. In addition, the mechanistic understanding obtained through advanced characterization techniques has elucidated the fundamental processes that control the formation and performance of core-sheath fibers. This knowledge not only facilitates the rational design of new materials but also paves the way for the development of innovative manufacturing strategies to further improve the performance and stability of solar cells.