Effect of Particle Size of Cellulose Nanofibril on the Structure and Property of Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) Membrane by Electrospinning

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/cellulose nanofibril (CNF) nanofiber membranes were successfully prepared by an electrospinning method, in which the amount of CNF kept 1 wt%. The effects of CNF sizes on the morphology and properly of spinning solutions and PAN electrospun nanofiber membrane were systematically investigated by rheological property test, conductivity test, SEM, TG, DSC, contact angle test and mechanical test. The results showed that the viscosity and conductivity of the spinning solution was improved with the increasing of CNF sizes, as the formation of the strong polar interactions of nitrile groups and the hydroxyl groups between PAN and CNF. All the morphology of the PAN/CNF nanofiber membrane exhibited a uniform diameter with no visible beads or beads to the string structure, and the average diameter of the PAN/CNF nanofiber was decreased with the increasing of the CNF size. Moreover, the addition of CNF could improve the thermal stability, mechanical properly, and hydrophilicity of the PAN membrane. And the PAN/CNF-10 nanofiber membrane exhibited the optimal properties.