Surface plasma treatment of the electrospun TiO 2 /PVP composite fibers in different atmospheres

The impact of plasma treatment in the different atmosphere on the surface of the polymer TiO2/PVP microfibers, prepared by needleless electrospinning technology was investigated. The fibers were treated by a low-temperature plasma-induced surface sintering process by a so-called Diffuse Coplanar Srface Barrier Discharge (DCSBD) in three different atmospheres: oxidative – air, reducing – H2 and inert – N2 atmosphere. The impact of the plasma treatment in different atmospheres on the morphology and chemical composition of the TiO2/PVP microfibers was studied. This type of treatment led to the formation of flexible composite core/shell fibers. For evaluation of the polymer decomposition process and ceramics formation – DSC/TG, GIXD, SAXS analysis and Raman spectroscopy were used. Scanning electron microscopy was applied for the characterization of the morphology and chemical composition of the fiber surfaces. It was found that the thin globular titania-enriched layer was formed on the surface of the fibers, the thickness of which depends on the exposure time. The main aim of this work is to investigate the impact of plasma treatment in the various plasma atmospheres on the morphology and chemical composition of the surface of TiO2/PVP composite nano/microfibers. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.