Fabrication and Characterization of Photochromic Spirooxazine/Polyvinylidene Fluoride Fiber Membranes via Electrospinning

Abstract

In this study, photochromic spirooxazine material of N-methyl-3,3-dimethyl-9’-hydroxy-spiro [2H-indole-2-[3H] naphtho [2,1-b] [1,4] oxazine] was synthesised. Spirooxazine/PVDF fiber (SPF) membranes with different contents of spirooxazine were successfully prepared by electrospinning. The SPF membranes were characterised by FTIR and SEM. The photochromic properties and contact angle of the SPF membranes were evaluated. The results show that the SPF membranes change from colorless to blue when exposed to UV light, but they revert to their original colour after the UV light disappears. The colour difference and contact angle of the SPF membranes firstly increase and then decrease with a rise in the content of spirooxazine.