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<p>Electrospun nanofibers provide an effective platform to confine and align liquid crystals (LCs), offering pathways toward anisotropic electro-optical materials. In this study, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers containing two classical Schiff base liquid crystals, MBBA and BBBA, were fabricated via single-needle electrospinning under applied voltages between 16 and 24&#xa0;kV. The study comparatively investigates the morphological, optical, and thermal behavior of MBBA- and BBBA-containing electrospun PAN composite nanofibers prepared under different electrospinning conditions. The obtained structures are interpreted as LC-integrated PAN composite fibers formed via single-needle electrospinning rather than discrete coaxial core−sheath architectures. Polarized optical microscopy revealed extinction–brightness cycles upon fiber rotation, confirming uniaxial molecular alignment along the fiber axis. SEM analysis demonstrated that fiber diameter decreased from ~ 620&#xa0;nm at 16&#xa0;kV to a minimum of ~ 410&#xa0;nm at 20&#xa0;kV, before broadening at higher voltages, identifying 20&#xa0;kV as the critical threshold for uniform fiber formation. FTIR spectra confirmed the coexistence of PAN and LC vibrational bands, supporting successful incorporation. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that BBBA/PAN fibers exhibited a higher onset degradation temperature (~ 315&#xa0;°C) compared to MBBA/PAN (~ 285&#xa0;°C), reflecting the enhanced stability of BBBA. The characteristic phase transition peaks observed in bulk liquid crystals were also detected in the LC/PAN composite fibers at comparable temperatures, indicating that the LC domains retained their thermotropic behavior after electrospinning. Furthermore, temperature-dependent POM measurements demonstrated that the liquid crystal domains retained their birefringent response within the electrospun PAN matrix, supporting successful LC incorporation and phase organization inside the composite fibers. Collectively, these results highlight the ability to tune fiber morphology, alignment, and thermal behavior through LC selection and spinning parameters, providing design guidelines for next-generation photonic devices, responsive sensors, and smart textile systems.</p>

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Electrospun fibers of schiff base liquid crystals

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月29日

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  • Atilla Eren Mamuk,
  • Fatma Kuru,
  • Gökhan Şaşmazer,
  • Çağdaş Koçak,
  • Çiğdem Elif Akgün,
  • Uğur Erkarslan,
  • Nejmettin Avcı

摘要

Electrospun nanofibers provide an effective platform to confine and align liquid crystals (LCs), offering pathways toward anisotropic electro-optical materials. In this study, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers containing two classical Schiff base liquid crystals, MBBA and BBBA, were fabricated via single-needle electrospinning under applied voltages between 16 and 24 kV. The study comparatively investigates the morphological, optical, and thermal behavior of MBBA- and BBBA-containing electrospun PAN composite nanofibers prepared under different electrospinning conditions. The obtained structures are interpreted as LC-integrated PAN composite fibers formed via single-needle electrospinning rather than discrete coaxial core−sheath architectures. Polarized optical microscopy revealed extinction–brightness cycles upon fiber rotation, confirming uniaxial molecular alignment along the fiber axis. SEM analysis demonstrated that fiber diameter decreased from ~ 620 nm at 16 kV to a minimum of ~ 410 nm at 20 kV, before broadening at higher voltages, identifying 20 kV as the critical threshold for uniform fiber formation. FTIR spectra confirmed the coexistence of PAN and LC vibrational bands, supporting successful incorporation. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that BBBA/PAN fibers exhibited a higher onset degradation temperature (~ 315 °C) compared to MBBA/PAN (~ 285 °C), reflecting the enhanced stability of BBBA. The characteristic phase transition peaks observed in bulk liquid crystals were also detected in the LC/PAN composite fibers at comparable temperatures, indicating that the LC domains retained their thermotropic behavior after electrospinning. Furthermore, temperature-dependent POM measurements demonstrated that the liquid crystal domains retained their birefringent response within the electrospun PAN matrix, supporting successful LC incorporation and phase organization inside the composite fibers. Collectively, these results highlight the ability to tune fiber morphology, alignment, and thermal behavior through LC selection and spinning parameters, providing design guidelines for next-generation photonic devices, responsive sensors, and smart textile systems.