Melt electrospinning of small molecules

Abstract

Electrospinning is an attractive way to prepare nano- and macrofibers. It was demonstrated by our group that trisamides can be melt electrospun into supramolecular fibers. To establish structure-property relationships regarding spinnability and morphology, melt electrospinning experiments were conducted using several classes of compounds. The number of hydrogen bonds was systematically decreased from three for trisamides, to two for bisamide and sorbitols, and to zero for perylene bisimides and tertiary trisamides. As a result, trisamides are readily spun into fibers, whereas for bisamides and sorbitols mainly electrospraying into spheres is observed. Perylene bisimides form well-defined fibers due to strong π-π interactions. This supramolecular fiber is interesting for many scientific disciplines. Small molecules can be melt electrospun into supramolecular nano- and macrofibers. In this Feature Article, comprehensive structure-property relationships between chemical structure, spinnability, and fiber morphology are presented. Especially trisamides, known for their columnar supramolecular self-assembly via threefold hydrogen bonding, and perylene bisimides with strong π-π interactions form well-defined fibers by melt electrospinning.