Electrospinning of Nanofibers and Their Applications for Energy Devices

Figure 6

Schematic of EHD printing process. (a) Growth of a liquid meniscus and subsequent ejection of ink nanodroplets from its apex on application of a DC voltage. During DC on-time, droplets are ejected at a homogeneous period and, once impacted, are vaporized (represented by wavy arrows) in the course of . After periodic repetition of this event (for illustration convenience merged into one cycle), a sharp structure consisting of a multitude of formerly dispersed nanoparticles rises from the substrate, attracting approaching charged droplets by EnA (straight arrows). The growth process is further illustrated with SEM micrographs (150 nm scale bar) of (b) the deposition pattern of a single nanodroplet and that of (c) actual nanopillar. (d) The deposition pattern of actual nanopillar with a 50 nm diameter and 850 nm height composed of gold nanoparticles (reproduced from [33]).

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(b)

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