Pure metal and ceramic nanofibers

Abstract

Provided herein are nanofibers and processes of preparing nanofibers. In some instances, the nanofibers are metal and/or ceramic nanofibers. In some embodiments, the nanofibers are high quality, high performance nanofibers, highly coherent nanofibers, highly continuous nanofibers, or the like. In some embodiments, the nanofibers have increased coherence, increased length, few voids and/or defects, and/or other advantageous characteristics. In some instances, the nanofibers are produced by electrospinning a fluid stock having a high loading of nanofiber precursor in the fluid stock. In some instances, the fluid stock comprises well mixed and/or uniformly distributed precursor in the fluid stock. In some instances, the fluid stock is converted into a nanofiber comprising few voids, few defects, long or tunable length, and the like.

We claim: 
     
         1 - 79 . (canceled) 
     
     
         80 . A process for producing one or more nanofiber, the process comprising electrospinning a fluid stock, the fluid stock comprising metal precursor(s) and polymer, the weight to weight ratio of the precursor(s) to polymer being at least 1:2; and the fluid stock being aqueous. 
     
     
         81 . The process of  claim 80 , wherein the fluid stock is co-axially electrospun with a gas. 
     
     
         82 . The process of  claim 81 , wherein the gas is a high-speed gas. 
     
     
         83 . The process of  claim 82 , wherein the high speed gas is high speed air having a velocity of about 100 m/s. 
     
     
         84 . The process of  claim 81 , wherein the weight-to-weight ratio of the precursor(s) to polymer is at least 1:1. 
     
     
         85 . The process of  claim 84 , wherein the weight-to-weight ratio of the precursor(s) to polymer is at least 1.5:1. 
     
     
         86 . The process of  claim 84 , wherein the weight-to-weight ratio of the precursor(s) to polymer is at least 2:1. 
     
     
         87 . The process of  claim 81 , wherein one or more of the precursor(s) are present in the fluid stock in a polymer-precursor association. 
     
     
         88 . The process of  claim 87 , wherein at least 25% of the polymer is saturated with precursor molecules. 
     
     
         89 . The process of  claim 81 , wherein the precursor(s) is present in the fluid stock in a concentration of at least 200 mM. 
     
     
         90 . The process of  claim 89 , wherein the precursor(s) is present in the fluid stock in a concentration of at least 250 mM. 
     
     
         91 . The process of  claim 90 , wherein the precursor(s) is present in the fluid stock in a concentration of at least 300 mM. 
     
     
         92 . The process of  claim 81 , wherein the metal precursor comprises Ag, Cu, Ni, Fe, Co, Pb, Au, Sn, Al, Zr, Li, Mn, Cr, Be, Cd, Si, Ti, V, Hf, Sr, Ba, Ge, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         93 . The process of  claim 81 , wherein the metal precursor comprises one or more metal acetate, metal nitrate, metal chloride, metal methoxide, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         94 . The process of  claim 81 , wherein the polymer is polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyvinyl ether, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyglycolic acid, hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), ethylcellulose, cellulose ethers, polyacrylic acid, polyisocyanate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         95 . The process of  claim 81 , wherein the metal precursor comprises metal acetate and the polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). 
     
     
         96 . The process of  claim 81 , further comprising calcining the electrospun material. 
     
     
         97 . The process of  claim 96 , wherein the calcining of the electrospun material comprises thermally treating the electrospun material, chemically treating the electrospun material, or both. 
     
     
         98 . The process of  claim 97 , wherein thermally treating the electrospun material comprises heating the electrospun material to at least 400° C. 
     
     
         99 . The process of  claim 97 , wherein chemically treating the electrospun material comprises treating the electrospun material with oxygen. 
     
     
         100 . The process of  claim 97 , wherein calcining the electrospun material comprises heating the electrospun material to at least 400° C. and treating the electrospun material with oxygen. 
     
     
         101 . The process of  claim 96 , wherein calcining the electrospun material comprises removing polymer from the electrospun material and converting metal precursor to metal, metal oxide, and/or ceramic. 
     
     
         102 . A nanofiber prepared according to a process of  claim 81  and comprising a continuous matrix of metal, metal alloy, metal oxide, or ceramic. 
     
     
         103 . A nanofiber prepared according to a process  claim 81  and comprising metal precursor(s) and polymer. 
     
     
         104 . A nanofiber comprising metal precursor(s) and polymer, the weight to weight ratio of the precursor(s) to polymer being at least 1.5:1.