AVS 49th International Symposium
    Surface Engineering Monday Sessions
       Session SE+NS-MoA

Paper SE+NS-MoA1
Investigation of Erbium Dispersion in Electrospun Nanofiber Matrices

Monday, November 4, 2002, 2:00 pm, Room C-111B

Session: Nanoparticle and Nanofiber Surface Technologies
Presenter: R.D. Ramsier, University of Akron
Authors: W. Kataphinan, University of Akron
R.D. Ramsier, University of Akron
E.A. Evans, University of Akron
D.H. Reneker, University of Akron
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Thermally stable nanofibers can be doped with molecular and atomic species. As an example, electrospun nanofibers made from polydiphenoxyphosphazene (PDPP) have been doped with erbium (Er) using Er(III) nitrate hydrate dissolved in ethanol. The Er/PDPP matrices are thermally stable up to 150 C in air for extended periods of time. Nanofibers electrospun from ceramic precursors are stable up to much higher temperatures. Infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy and other techniques are used to quantify the influence of the electrospinning parameters (voltage, solvent, concentration, etc.) on the structural and spectral properties of the nanofibers and the dispersion of the Er-based dopants. Differences between methods for doping the fibers will be described based on these results. These results expand the useful operating temperature range of polymer nanofiber systems as well as the use of nanofiber matrices as a support for the dispersion of molecular and atomic scale dopants.