Application of Image Analysis in the Characterization of Electrospun Nanofibers

Abstract

<em>In this work, CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles have been prepared by co-precipitation technique. The synthesized CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were applied in the preparation of CoFe₂O₄/Polyacrylonitrile fiber nanocomposites by the electrospinning process. The prepared nanoparticles and nanofibers were characterized using the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction methods. The results manifested that nanofibers of PAN and CoFe₂O₄ /PAN were successfully prepared with electrospinning method. Grayscale SEM images of nanofibers were analyzed by a new image analysis procedure for determination of fibers diameter, their diameter distribution and the compactness of electrospun nanofibers. It was found that the presence of CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles in the PAN solution increases both of the compactness of electrospun nanofibers and their diameter. The prepared CoFe₂O₄/Polyacrylonitrile fiber nanocomposites have possible applications in fabrication of sensor and magnetic recording media.</em>