Preparation of poly[bis(carboxylato phenoxy)phosphazene] non-woven nanofiber mats by electrospinning

Polyphosphazene forms a versatile class of polymer having an inorganic backbone of phosphorous and nitrogen atoms with two organic or organometallic side groups attached to each phosphorous atoms. The present study demonstrate the feasibility of developing macroporous non-woven nanofiber mats from polyphosphazene Poly[bis(carboxylato phenoxy) phosphazene] (PCPP) by electrospinning. The solution obtained by dissolving polymer in a mixture of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and N,N-Dimethyl formamide (DMF) in the ratio of 1:4 was used to electrospun fibers of submicron diameters. The morphology and diameters of the electrospun fibers were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of concentration of the polymer solution on the diameter and morphology of the electrospun fibers is discussed. The process enabled us to develop fibers with diameters less than 75 nm by applying high voltage to the polymer solution.