Geometric Analysis and Modeling of Electrospun Nanofiber Mat Deposition in a Top-Down Vertical Configuration

TL;DR

This paper studies how voltage and distance affect the shape and mass of electrospun nanofiber mats in a vertical setup.

Contribution

The study introduces a geometric modeling approach to analyze nanofiber mat deposition in a top-down vertical electrospinning configuration.

Findings

Tip-to-collector distance significantly affects the area and perimeter of the nanofiber mat.

Applied voltage (15–20 kV) does not significantly influence mat geometry.

Deposited mass is not clearly dependent on either voltage or distance.

Abstract

Electrospinning is a widely used technique for fabricating nanomaterials with tailored morphology and functional properties. This study investigates how two fundamental process parameters—applied voltage and needle tip-to-collector distance—affect the spatial geometry and deposited mass of electrospun nanofiber mats in a top-down vertical electrospinning setup using a 10% (w/v) PVA solution prepared in deionized water. To support this hypothesis, both experimental measurements and 3D geometric modeling were performed to evaluate the area, perimeter, and deposited mass under different parameter combinations. Digital image analysis and cross-sectional reconstruction were applied to model nanofiber deposition. Regression and ANOVA analyses reveal that the tip-to-collector distance has a statistically significant impact on both area and perimeter of the electrospun nanofiber mat, while the applied voltage in the tested range (15–20 kV) has no significant effect. Interestingly, the total deposited mass shows no clear dependence on either parameter, likely due to startup irregularities or solution droplets.

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