Issue 13, 2015

Self-powered electrospinning apparatus based on a hand-operated Wimshurst generator

Abstract

A conventional electrospinning setup cannot work without a plug (electricity supply). In this article, we report a self-powered electrospinning setup based on a hand-operated Wimshurst generator. The new device has better applicability and portability than a typical conventional electrospinning setup because it is lightweight and can work without an external power supply. Experimental parameters of the apparatus such as the minimum number of handle turns to generate enough energy to spin, rotation speed of the handle and electrospinning distance were investigated. Different polymers such as polystyrene (PS), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), polycaprolactone (PCL) and polylactic acid (PLA) were electrospun into ultrathin fibers successfully by this apparatus. The stability, reliability, and repeatability of the new apparatus demonstrate that it can be used as not only a demonstrator for an electrospinning process, but also a beneficial complement to conventional electrospinning especially where or when without a power supply, and may be used in wound healing and rapid hemostasis, etc.

Graphical abstract: Self-powered electrospinning apparatus based on a hand-operated Wimshurst generator

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
19 Jan 2015
Accepted
16 Feb 2015
First published
18 Feb 2015

Nanoscale, 2015,7, 5603-5606

Author version available

Self-powered electrospinning apparatus based on a hand-operated Wimshurst generator

W. Han, Y. Huang, M. Yu, J. Zhang, X. Yan, G. Yu, H. Zhang, S. Yan and Y. Long, Nanoscale, 2015, 7, 5603 DOI: 10.1039/C5NR00387C

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