Nanofiber-nanowire composite and fabrication method thereof

• US 9,309,405 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Jong-jin, Cha, Seung-nam, Hur, Jae-hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi, Peter Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): TATESURE, VINCENT
• Application Number:
  US12/801,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20110177332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,113 Days
• Field of Search: 428/364, 430/325, 264/465, 117/94
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/022 characterised by the choice of material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/05 Filamentary, e.g. strands
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/08 flexible, e.g. films
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/2886 of fibrous, filamentary or filling materials, e.g. thin fibrous reinforcements or fillers
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/29 in liquid form
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/67 having incorporated mixing devices not provided for in groups B29C48/52 - B29C48/66
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/76 Venting , drying means; Degassing means
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2009/00 Use of rubber derived from conjugated dienes, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/16 EPM, i.e. ethylene-propylene copolymers; EPDM, i.e. ethylene-propylene-diene copolymers; EPT, i.e. ethylene-propylene terpolymers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2025/00 Use of polymers of vinyl-aromatic compounds or derivatives thereof as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2055/02 ABS polymers, i.e. acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/0005 containing compounding ingredients releasing, lubricating or separating agents B29C33/56, fibers B29K2105/08, B29K2105/12; fillers B29K2105/16, recycled material B29K2105/26
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/12 of short lengths, e.g. chopped filaments, staple fibres or bristles
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 71/02 Polyalkylene oxides
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/0007 Electro-spinning non-woven fabrics produced by electro-spinning D04H1/728
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 1/10 Other agents for modifying properties
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/0047 characterised by additives for obtaining a metallic or ceramic pattern, e.g. by firing
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/038 Macromolecular compounds which are rendered insoluble or differentially wettable G03F7/075 takes precedence; macromolecular azides G03F7/012; macromolecular diazonium compounds G03F7/021
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2913 Rod, strand, filament or fiber

Abstract

Example embodiments are directed to a nanofiber-nanowire composite includes a polymer nanofiber; and a plurality of nanowires of a metal oxide extending from inside to outside of the polymer nanofiber and covering the polymer nanofiber. According to example embodiments, a method of fabricating a nanofiber-nanowire composite includes forming a nanofiber including a metal seed; and growing nanowires of a metal oxide from the metal seed to the outside of the nanofiber.

Claims

1. A nanofiber-nanowire composite consisting of:

a polymer nanofiber which is a nanofiber consisting of a polymer, and a plurality of nanowires of a metal oxide extending from the inside of the polymer nanofiber to the outside of the polymer nanofiber and covering the polymer nanofiber.

2. The nanofiber-nanowire composite of claim 1, wherein the polymer nanofiber comprises a water-insoluble polymer.

3. The nanofiber-nanowire composite of claim 2, wherein the water-insoluble polymer is prepared by cross-linking a water-soluble polymer.

4. The nanofiber-nanowire composite of claim 2, wherein the water-insoluble polymer is a photosensitive polymer including an epoxy resin.

5. The nanofiber-nanowire composite of claim 3, wherein the water-soluble polymer comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyacrylic acid (PAA), polystyrene sulfonic acid, polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate, polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyacrylamide (PA), PVA-PEO-PVA, PVA-poly propylene oxide (PPO)-PVA, PVA-PA, PVA-PA-PAA, PVA-polystyrene (PS) -PVA, and PVA-PVA, PVA-SbQ prepared by introducing a stilbazolium group to PVA, and polyethylene glycol diacrylate.

6. The nanofiber-nanowire composite of claim 1, wherein the metal oxide comprises zinc oxide (ZnO), tin-dioxide (SnO₂), titanium dioxide (TiO₂), or indium oxide (In₂O₃).

17. The nanofiber-nanowire composite of claim 1, wherein the polymer nanofiber has a hydrophobic surface.

7. A method of fabricating a nanofiber-nanowire composite consisting of a polymer nanofiber, the method comprising:

forming the polymer nanofiber which is a nanofiber consisting of a polymer, and a plurality of nanowires of a metal oxide,

the plurality of nanowires being grown from a metal seed to the outside of the polymer nanofiber such that the plurality of nanowires extend from the inside of the polymer nanofiber to the outside of the polymer nanofiber and cover the polymer nanofiber.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein forming the polymer nanofiber comprises:

forming a polymer film by spin coating a composition including a photosensitive polymer, a precursor of the metal oxide, and a solvent; and

patterning the polymer nanofiber by exposing the polymer film to light using a photomask and developing the polymer film.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein forming the polymer nanofiber comprises:

forming a pre-nanofiber by electrospinning a composition including a water-soluble polymer, a first precursor of the metal oxide, and a solvent; and

converting the water-soluble polymer in the pre-nanofiber into a water-insoluble polymer by cross-linking the water-soluble polymer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the water-soluble polymer is cross-linked by heat-treatment.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the water-soluble polymer is cross-linked by UV-radiation.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein growing the nanowires of the metal oxide includes immersing the polymer nanofiber in a hexamethyltetradiamine (HMTA, (CH₂)₆N₄) solution.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein growing the nanowires of the metal oxide further includes adding a second precursor of the metal oxide to the HMTA solution in which the polymer nanofiber is immersed.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein growing the nanowires of the metal oxide comprises:

heating the polymer nanofiber in a mixed solution including zinc acetate, deionized water, and methanol; and

adding a solution including potassium hydroxide and methanol into the mixed solution.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the composition further includes a conductive material.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the metal oxide includes zinc oxide (ZnO), tin-dioxide (SnO₂), titanium dioxide (TiO₂), or indium oxide (In₂O₃).