Light Scattering of Electrospinning Jet with Internal Structures by Flow‐Induced Phase Separation

Herein, the direct morphological evidence of the extension‐induced phase‐separated structures in the electrospinning jet observed by high‐speed video imaging and by light scattering technique is reported. Model solutions of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/water are electrospun. Two types of internal structures, that is, long strings and short ellipsoids, are found. A light scattering model is derived for the Vv scattering configuration to account for the scattered intensities contributed from the liquid jet itself and those from the internal structures. For the severely stretching jet of PVA/water, the Vv intensity profile is dominant by the internal structures to mask the scattering contribution from the jet itself. Moreover, the Hv intensity profile reflects the anisotropy of the oriented chains parallel to the jet axis. For the 7 wt% solution, the derived extension rate in the vicinity of the Taylor cone apex is about 3420 s−1, which is higher than the Rouse relaxation rate measured by rheometer. It is concluded that extension‐induced phase separation of the single‐phase PVA solution is likely to occur in Taylor‐cone apex to trigger the self‐assembly process for producing strings (and/or bulges) in the flowing jet, which eventually transform to become the nanofibers, after solvent removal, to be collected on the grounded collector. Flow‐induced phase separation occurs in the electrospinning jet provided that the extension rate exerted by the external electric field is higher than the intrinsic relaxation rate of the polymer solution. Fiber formation of electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol) using a combination of in situ light scattering and high‐frame‐rate imaging, and ex situ examination of collected jet by optical and electron microscopy are investigated.