Electrospun material with bio-inspired ordered architectures and patterns is very interesting,yet remains a challenge.We report here that nanofibrous mats with bird＇s nest patterned structures can be directly electrospun from chlorinated polypropylene solutions doped with an ionic liquid.The solution viscosity and the ionic liquid content are two dominant factors to influence the topological morphology of the nanofibrous mats.The patterned structures can be further modulated by the collection time of electrospinning,the humidity of environment and the design of collector.We suggest the electrostatic repulsion between the residual charges of the mat surface and the upcoming nanofibers plays a key role in the formation of the bird＇s nest patterns.
Affinity membranes are fabricated for boric acid removal by the surface functionalization of microporous polypropylene membrane(MPPM)with lactose-based polyols.The affinity is based on specific complexation between boric acid and saccharide polyols.A photoinduced grafting-chemical reaction sequence was used to prepare these affinity membranes.Poly(2-aminoethyl methacrylate hydrochloride)[poly(AEMA)]was grafted on the surfaces of MPPM by UV-induced graft polymerization.Grafting in the membrane pores was visualized by dying the cross-section of poly(AEMA)-grafted MPPM with fluorescein disodium and imaging with confocal laser scanning microscopy.It is concluded that lactose ligands can be covalently immobilized on the external surface and in the pores by the subsequent coupling of poly(AEMA)with lactobionic acid(LA).Physical and chemical properties of the affinity membranes were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared/Attenuated Total Refraction spectroscopy(FT-IR/ATR).3-Aminophenyl boric acid(3-APBA)was removed from aqueous solution by a single piece of lactose-functionalized MPPM in a dynamic filtration system.The results show that the 3-APBA removal reaches an optimal efficiency(39.5%)under the alkaline condition(pH9.1),which can be improved by increasing the immobilization density of LA.Regeneration of these affinity membranes can be easily realized through acid-base washing because the complexation of boric acid and saccharide polyol is reversible.
