Luminescent polyvinylpyrrolidone/ZnO hybrid nanofibers membrane prepared by electrospinning

Abstract

AbstractPolyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/ZnO composite nanofibers were successfully prepared by a facile method called electrospinning technique. The synthetic strategy involved two steps: (1) Preparation of ZnO sol in ethanol solution. PVP molecules then added into the above sol and achieved the appropriate rheology for electrospinning; (2) Electrospun the above solution to obtain fibers of PVP/ZnO composites. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis of the composite nanofibers revealed network structures like a spider’s web. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed small nanoparticles of the ZnO component with an average particle size in the range of 3 - 4 nm and a good dispersion. X-Ray diffraction results showed that a pure wurtzite phase was obtained in PVP fibers. XPS spectra proved that the Zn and O elements existed in PVP/ZnO composite nanofibers. FTIR and UV-vis spectroscopy were used to characterize the structure of PVP/ZnO composite nanofibers. The photoluminescence properties of the PVP/ZnO composite nanofibers were also investigated.