Application of Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) Technology in Monitoring of the Preparation of Spinning Solution for Electrospinning

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) technology had already been applied in polymer science and provides a deeper understanding on polymer structure and formation processes. Here we prepared a copolymer of (2-(4-vinylphenyl)ethene-1,1,2-triyl)tribenzene (TPEE) and acrylonitrile (AN) (PTPEE-co-AN), which was utilized as the fluoresce probe for the monitoring of the electrostatic spinning process. Owing to the physical entanglement which restrincted the movement of TPE units, the PL intensity of the spinning solution increased with the increase of PAN in the solution. The viscosity and the concentration of PAN spinning solution was, therefore, could be monitored by PL intensity or by nake eyes. As the main component of fluoresce probes was PAN, the copolymer can be well integrated with spinning components, and has no impact on the electrospinning process. Moreover, the PTPEE-co-AN endowed photoluminescence properties to the formed fibers, as well as the fiber films. This method provides a new observation platform for the electrospinning process, and a variety of probes can be prepared through copolymerization to suit the spinning of different polymers.