Multi-jet electrospinning via auxiliary electrode

• A novel electrospinning process was proposed using auxiliary electrode.
• The electrode position and its diameter had a significant influence on jet number.
• The number of jets in this electrospinning process could be increased up to 9–12.
• The nanofiber productivity was 7–10 times than that of traditional electrospinning.
• We report a powerful approach for mass production of nanofibers.

A modified electrospinning process with an auxiliary grounded electrode was developed to improve the production rate of nanofibers. The effect of the auxiliary electrode on the number of jets and the output of nanofibers was investigated. The results showed that the number of jets and the nanofiber output could be controlled by the position and diameter of the auxiliary electrode. The Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis was employed to explore the mechanism of generating multiple jets. The simulation results reveal that the auxiliary electrode greatly enhances the electric field gradient in the spinning area. This technique provides a novel route for electrospinning apparatus design and has potential for high-throughput nanofiber fabrication.

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