Nanocomposite microfiber spinning using a UV-curable polymer in an aqueous environment

We report a hydrodynamic assisted nanocomposite microfiber spinning method using a UV-curable polymer. In contrast to a large number of previously reported fiber spinning methods, all the fabrication processes in the present method are performed in an aqueous environment, based on a photopolymerization process. The diameter of the spun fiber can be easily controlled at the scale of hundred microns by varying the draw ratio (the ratio of the take-up speed to the extrusion speed). To characterize the hydrodynamic phenomenon of polymer drawing, an analytic model and relevant physical parameters are employed. We also demonstrate QD (quantum dot)-based RGB color-emitting nanocomposite fibers and hetero-structural nanocomposite fibers with an RGB color column showing a rotational symmetry of 120° in one-step fabrication. Our approach is straightforward to implement using a variety of UV-curable polymers and can be applied to fabricate nanocomposite fibers with various physical properties and geometries. The processing features enable diverse possibilities for preparing novel nanocomposite materials and expanding the potential application of spun fibers.