The confinement effect on the chain conformation and crystallization behavior of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in electrospun nanofibers was investigated. The PEO chains in electrospun nanofibers were tightly packed and exhibited a zigzag conformation. Increasing the fiber diameter reduced the packing of polymer chains, resulting in increases in the melting temperature and crystallite size. Thermal treatment relaxed the stretched chains, which induced a change from the metastable zigzag conformation to a stable helical conformation. Additionally, the melting temperature, degree of crystallinity, and crystallite size increased with increasing annealing temperature.
- Nhu Quynh Nguyen
- Ting-Fang Chen
- Chieh-Tsung Lo
