Innovative Electrospinning Method of Depositing Functionally Graded and Aligned Multidirectional Polymer Nanofibers

An innovative setup in which multiple electrodes, whose potentials can be switched on or off, was used for producing electrospun fibers. By controlling the activation time and sequence of switching between adjacent electrodes, the electrical field and thus the charge-carrying fibers can be directed to different locations. It has been demonstrated that a variety of functionally graded architectures having preferred alignments can be produced. The simulation results point to possible mechanisms for directional deposition of fibers. The electrospun fibers can be varied in a controlled manner to produce mats containing random, aligned, or multidirectional nanofibrous patterns. [GRAPHICS] .