Evaluation the effects of humidity and other process parameters on TiO2 Nanofibers by RSM (CCD) and experimental

Abstract

Nanofibers are one of the most widely used materials in various industrial sectors. Among them Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) nanofibers are excelled, moreover they are environmentally friendly and have shown that they have diverse industrial applications. The physical structure of this fiber (diameter and surface characteristics) is a key effective factor on its behavior for corresponding applications. In this study, the effects of different factors influencing the diameter of TiO2 nanofibers were analyzed and quantified using two statistical analyses namely the Response Level Method (RSM) and the Composite Central Design (CCD) method. The preparation parameters of polymer synthesis including the electrical potential, the distance between electrodes tips, flow rate, and ambient humidity were studied. Results marked polymer concentration as the most important factor affecting the diameter of the nanofibers. However the diameter was almost independent from flow rate, and hence marked as the least effective factor. Furthermore, as humidity increased, the diameter of the fibers decreased significantly and surface roughness increased as demonstrated in the SEM and FESEM images. Since the relative humidity has intense impact on the structural properties of titanium dioxide nanofibers, humidity condition of synthesis space must be strictly controlled and kept below a threshold (38%).