An investigation on the behavior of electrospun ZnO nanofibers under the application of low frequency AC electric fields

In present study, the behavior of electrospun ZnO nanofibers under the application of low frequency alternating (AC) electric fields within the range of 1 Hz–20 kHz was investigated using planar parallel electrodes. In the first stage, ZnO nanofibers with diameters up to 100 nm were prepared by electrospinning. At 1 Hz, the strong electric field-induced fluid flow due to charge redistribution around the electrode swept the fibers on the electrode surface farther from the edges. As the frequency was increased to 1 kHz, most depositing fibers accumulated on the electrode edges and in the meantime, a small fraction of them was pushed into the surface as a result of AC electroosmosis effect. Above 1 kHz, the fibers were assembled within the electrode gap bridging the interelectrode space. The dielectrophoresis force was considered responsible for the assembly and relative alignment of ZnO nanofibers above 1 kHz.