Electric field distribution and jet motion in electrospinning process: from needle to hole

The electric field distribution, the jet motion, and the resultant fiber morphology are systematically studied for a single needle and a “hole” electrospinning system. The 3D electric fields and the jet bending processes of the two configurations are simulated. High-speed photography is adopted to capture the jet motion during electrospinning. Four parameters including the straight jet length, the amplitude and frequency of the whipping process, and the velocity of the bending jet are measured to characterize the development of the jet motion. The results show that the hole electrospinning setup produces shorter straight jet length, smaller envelope cone, but higher whipping frequency, and lower jet dropping velocity. These factors result in fine and uniform fibers produced from the “hole” electrospinning system.