Variable Direct Electromechanical Properties of As-Electrospun Polystyrene Microfiber Mats with Different Electrospinning Conditions

Abstract

As-electrospun microfiber mats comprising atactic polystyrene (aPS), a low-cost commodity polymer, have demonstrated beneficial electromechanical properties. However, the variability of the electromechanical properties of fiber mats produced using different electrospinning conditions has not been investigated. Therefore, herein, the direct electromechanical properties of aPS fiber mats produced using different deposition times (tdep) and electrospinning voltages (VES) are investigated. The resulting apparent piezoelectric d constant (dapp) of the fiber mats demonstrates a specific peak value for tdep as high as ~1600 pC N−1 under 1-kPa pressure application after ~0.2-kPa pre-pressure application, although the dapp of the fiber mats produced with some conditions is nearly zero pC·N−1. Furthermore, the peak position of dapp with tdep is fundamentally determined with σEff0/YD(h-hpre) [σEff0: effective surface charge density, YD(h-hpre): secant modulus of elasticity]. Charge distribution models for fiber mats with different tdep are established. The models explain the characteristics of the significant changes in YD(h-hpre) and σEff0 with tdep. These findings provide significant directions for the production of fiber mats with improved direct electromechanical properties.