Optimization of the electrospinning parameters of Mn2O3 and Mn3O4 nanofibers

Three dimensional porous random Mn2O3 and Mn3O4 nanofibers were successfully prepared via a facile electrospinning homogenous solution of 0.006 mol of manganese nitrate 4-hydrate in 10 wt% polyvinyl alcohol followed by calcination of the as-spun nanofibers at 500, 700 and 1000 °C. The processing parameters that directly influence the morphology of the produced fibers are namely; concentration, viscosity of the solution as well as the potential of spinning as high concentration gave beaded fibers at all applied potentials. The present selected conditions were found to be; voltage 24 kV, flow rate 0.3 ml/h, the distance between the needle and collector 10 cm, viscosity 0.955 Pa S and the inner diameter of the needle 0.39 mm. X-ray diffraction results of the nanofibers showed that Mn2O3 and Mn3O4 phases were processed at two temperature; 700 °C and 1000 °C, respectively. Field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed that Mn2O3 and Mn3O4 nanofibers were fabricated with diameters in the range of 40-80 nm and 70-300 nm, respectively.