One-dimensional nanostructured ceramics for healthcare, energy and sensor applications

Abstract

One dimensional nanostructured materials possess a very high aspect ratio and consequently they possess a high degree of anisotropy. Coupled with an extremely high surface area, this leads to an interesting display of properties in the one-dimensional nanostructured ceramics, which differ markedly from their bulk counterparts. These characteristics have made the one-dimensional nanomaterials to be most sought in mesoscopic physics and in fabrication of nanoscale, miniaturized devices. Electrospinning is an established method for fabrication of polymer nanofibers on a large scale. By electrospinning of a polymeric solution containing the ceramic precursor and subsequent drying, calcination, and sintering, it has been possible to produce ceramic nanostructures and this technique appears highly promising for scale-up. During the last five years, there has been remarkable progress in the fabrication of ceramic nanorods and nanofibers by electrospinning. Ceramic nanofibers are becoming useful and niche materials for several applications owing to their surface- and size-dependant properties. In this paper three main case studies will be presented which elucidate the versatility of ceramic nanofibers in the domains of healthcare, renewable energy and sensor applications.