Lamellar flow - Single nanofiber layer membrane and 3D nanofibrous structure

Schematic of the electrospinning setup

Through modification of the interaction between the water flow and the deposited nanofibers, unique nanofibrous structures can be fabricated. The figure below shows an inclined water flow setup used for collecting nanofibers.

In this setup, the nanofiber would be washed down the incline as soon as it hit the surface of the water. With sufficient water flow speed, none of the collected nanofiber will overlap with the preceding nanofiber thereby creating a unique nanofibrous structure where the membrane consists of just a single layer of nanofiber as it collects in a relatively stagnant pool of water at the base. The single nanofiber layer may be lifted off the surface of the water by placing a plate under it.

If a three-dimensional structure is preferred, the nanofibrous membrane may be picked off the water surface and the weight of the water on the membrane would just cause it to collapse into a clump. The clump of nanofibers may then be freeze-dried to give a block of nanofibers.