Parallel spinnerets electrospinning fabrication of novel flexible luminescent–electrical–magnetic trifunctional bistrand-aligned nanobundles

• Luminescence–electricity–magnetism bistrand-aligned nanobundle was firstly prepared.
• Nanobundles possess excellent luminescence, electrical conduction and magnetism.
• The nanostructure helps to reduce the impact of PANI and Fe3O4 on the fluorescence.
• Luminescence, electrical conduction and magnetism of the nanobundles can be tuned.

Novel flexible luminescent–electrical–magnetic trifunctional bistrand-aligned nanobundles have been successfully fabricated by specially designed parallel spinnerets electrospinning technology. Europium complex Eu(BA)3phen (BA = benzoic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), polyaniline (PANI) and Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were respectively incorporated into polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and electrospun into bistrand-aligned nanobundles with Eu(benzoic acid)3(1,10-phenanthroline)/polyvinyl pyrrolidone as one strand nanofiber and polyaniline/Fe3O4/polyvinyl pyrrolidone as another strand nanofiber. The morphologies and properties of the final products were investigated in detail by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), fluorescence spectroscopy, Hall effect measurement system and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). It is found that the as-prepared samples exhibit the nanostructures of bistrand-aligned nanobundles. The mean diameter for each individual nanofiber of the bistrand-aligned nanobundles is 350 nm. The obtained trifunctional bistrand-aligned nanobundles possess excellent luminescent performance, electrical conduction and magnetism. Fluorescence emission peaks of Eu3+ are observed in the bistrand-aligned nanobundles and assigned to the 5D0 → 7F0 (581 nm), 5D0 → 7F1 (592 nm), 5D0 → 7F2 (615 nm) of energy level transitions of Eu3+, and the 5D0 → 7F2 hypersensitive transition at 615 nm is the predominant emission peak. The electrical conductivity reaches up to the order of 10−3 S/cm. The luminescent intensity, electrical conductivity and magnetic properties of the bistrand-aligned nanobundles can be tunable by adjusting various amounts of rare earth complex, PANI and Fe3O4 NPs. The flexible luminescent–electrical–magnetic trifunctional bistrand-aligned nanobundles have potential applications in molecular electronics, microwave absorption and display device owing to their excellent multifunctionality.

Novel flexible [Eu(BA)3phen/PVP]//[PANI/Fe3O4/PVP] luminescent–electrical–magnetic trifunctional bistrand-aligned nanobundles were successfully prepared by specially designed parallel spinnerets electrospinning technology. This peculiar isolated-nanostructure of bistrand-aligned nanobundles can help to realize effective isolating rare earth complex from the dark color PANI and Fe3O4 NPs to ultimately reduce the impact of PANI and Fe3O4 NPs on fluorescent property of the nanofiber. Meanwhile, high electrical conductivity is achieved owing to consecutive PANI in the nanostructure leading to more effective electrons transport. The bistrand-aligned nanobundles simultaneously possess excellent luminescent performance, electrical conduction and magnetism. The color, luminescent intensity, electrical conductivity and magnetic properties of the bistrand-aligned nanobundles can be tunable by adjusting diversity and content of fluorescent compounds, the content of PANI and Fe3O4 NPs, respectively.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide