Electro-spinning Fiber Guide for Directional Nano-fiber Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electro-spinning methods face limitations in accurately arranging nano-fibers in a desired direction for commercialization, particularly in forming precise patterns on substrates.
Innovation Solution
An electro-spinning type pattern forming apparatus is designed with a nozzle and stage having different voltages, and fiber guide parts made of materials with low relative dielectric permittivity, which transform the electric field to apply a force parallel to the stage, guiding nano-fibers to form a microscale pattern in a predetermined direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional electro-spinning methods are used to manufacture nano-fibers, then continuous production is achieved, but the nano-fibers cannot be accurately arranged in a desired direction for precise pattern formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a fiber guide part as an intermediary component between the nozzle and substrate. This guide part, made of dielectric material with specific permittivity (50 or less), transforms the electric field to apply lateral force on nano-fibers, guiding them to arrange in a desired direction. The guide part acts as a mediator that converts the vertical electro-spinning process into controlled lateral pattern formation without complicating the overall manufacturing system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dielectric permittivity parameter of the guide part material to achieve the desired effect. By selecting materials with relative dielectric permittivity of 50 or less (such as polystyrene, polytetrafluoroethylene, wood, plastics, glass, quartz, or silicon oxide), the electric field is transformed to generate lateral force on the charged nano-fibers, enabling directional control while maintaining continuous production.
2Force
If the fiber guide part is made of material with high relative dielectric permittivity, then the electric field transformation is insufficient, but using low permittivity materials enables effective force application to nano-fibers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifically selects materials with relative dielectric permittivity of 50 or less for the fiber guide part. This parameter change in material property enables the dielectric material to be polarized by the electric field, generating lateral force on the charged nano-fibers passing through the guide part, thereby achieving directional control without adding mechanical complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables the accurate arrangement and stable formation of nano-fibers in one direction on a substrate, allowing for precise microscale pattern creation by manipulating the electric field and fiber guide parts' geometry.
Implementation Method 1
a fiber guide part disposed between the nozzle and the stage and transforming an electric field formed between the nozzle and the stage to apply a force, acting in a direction parallel to the stage, to a nano-fiber spun from the nozzle
Implementation Method 2
forming an electric field larger than the surface tension of the spinning solution and thus allowing the spinning solution to be spun in a form of nano-fiber
Implementation Method 3
a high voltage is applied between a nozzle spinning a spinning solution and a stage on which a substrate is disposed, forming an electric field larger than the surface tension of the spinning solution
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electro-spinning type pattern forming apparatus. The electro-spinning type pattern forming apparatus includes a nozzle, a stage, and a fiber guide part. The nozzle has a first voltage applied thereto and spins a spinning solution. The stage is disposed below the nozzle to support a substrate on which a pattern is to be formed and has a second voltage applied thereto. The fiber guide part is disposed between the nozzle and the stage, and transforms the electric field formed between the nozzle and the stage to apply a force, acting in a direction parallel to the stage, to nano-fibers spun from the nozzle. The electro-spinning type pattern forming apparatus can form a nano-fiber pattern arranged in one direction.