title: Transient charge-masking effect of applied voltage on electrospinning of pure chitosan nanofibers from aqueous solutions.
abstract: The processing of a polyelectrolyte (whose functionality is derived from its ionized functional groups) into a nanofiber may improve its functionality and yield multiple functionalities. However, the electrospinning of nanofibers from polyelectrolytes is imperfect because polyelectrolytes differ considerably from neutral polymers in their rheological properties. In our study, we attempt to solve this problem by applying a voltage of opposite polarity to charges on a polyelectrolyte. The application of this 'countervoltage' can temporarily mask or screen a specific rheological property of the polyelectrolyte, making it behave as a neutral polymer. This approach can significantly contribute to the development of new functional nanofiber materials.
authors.affiliation: International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0044, Japan.
authors.forename: Dohiko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Terada
authors.affiliation: International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0044, Japan; CREST, JST, Sanbancho, Chiyoda, Tokyo, 102-0075, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisatoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Environment and Energy Materials Division, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0047, Japan.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0044, Japan.
authors.forename: Ashutosh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.affiliation: International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0044, Japan.
authors.forename: Chiaki
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.affiliation: Nanotechnology Innovation Station, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0047, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobutaka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hanagata
keywords: Chitosan; Electrospinning; Nanofiber; Polyelectrolyte