Generation of Controllable Patterned Nanofibrous Networks by Electrospinning Lithography: Simultaneous Detection and Adsorption toward Cesium Ions

Micropattern-controlled multifunctional materials have gained significant attention for various applications. In particular, a control pattern obtained by the alternation of the electric field through electrospinning can be obtained from a two-dimensional sheet to a three-dimensional microarchitecture. Herein, we present a novel direct-write patterning technique as a technical platform to precisely fabricate controlled multifunctional nanofibrous materials using a combination of electrospinning and electrospraying. A polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based sacrificial mask placed on an electrospun nanofibrous network was used as the background collector, wherein the nanospheres were sequentially electrosprayed. Complex geometrical patterns such as simple figures, numbers, and letters were generated using a negatively patterned PDMS-based sacrificial mask. Using this technique, dual-functional nanofibrous composite materials comprising cellulose acetate nanofibers embedded with 0.05 M chrysoidine G and 5 wt % Prussian blue nanoparticles were successfully fabricated in different patterns and utilized for the detection and adsorption of Cs+ ions. The as-prepared composite exhibited an excellent Cs+ ion adsorption capacity with a maximum value of 54.293 mg g–1 and detected Cs+ ions up to a very low concentration of 1.0 mg L–1. Thus, electrospinning lithography is a promising and versatile technique for generating multifunctional materials that can be used in various chemical and biological applications.