Fabrication and Characterization of Electrospun Magnetic Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) Nanofibers for GMR Sensor Applications

One-dimensional (1-D) nanomaterials have attracted increasing attention due to their characteristics combining the advantages of both polymer matrix and inorganic fillers. Transition metals or rare earth oxides are usually used as fillers because of their unique electrical, optical and chemical properties. A large number of synthesis and fabrication methods have already been used to produce 1-D nanomaterials in the form of nanofibers, nanorods, naowires, nanocables, nanobelts and nanotubes. But electrospining has been demonstrated that it is the simplest and low cost technique to produce nanocomposite fibers at a high speed. Electrospun fibers exhibit remarkable properties due to its large specific surface area, small diameter (50-500 nm) and extremely long length.

In this study, electrospun iron nanoparticles reinforced polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanocomposite fibers are produced. Afterwards, electrspun nanocomposite fibers were annealed at nitrogen atmosphere under 800 oC for 2 hours to obtain the graphitic structure iron/carbon nanofibers. The crystallinity and magnetic properties of nanofibers will be reported.