Optical switching patterns using electrospun nanofiber array

Abstract

This is a report on optical switching patterns textured by electrospun nanofibers according to the direction of the incident light. The effect of fiber size is also explained. Depending on the direction of the incident light, there should be two distinct reflective behaviors on the surfaces of the nanofibers: diffuse and specular reflections. The mechanism for this critical phenomenon is explained in terms of the cylindrical geometry of the fiber surface, and the "on-off" reflective behavior can be maximized when the diameters of the fibers are quite small, such as nanofibers. Switching the patterns of a nanofiber array according to the direction of light: north and east, respectively (scale bar = 1 mm). © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.