Synthesis and characterisation of ceramic core/shell nanofibres via single stage co-axial electrospinning

SnO2/ZnO core-shell nanofibres were synthesised by single-stage electrospinning technique. For synthesis of these nanofibres, the hydrophilic solutions of precursors were injected by two injectors through coaxial needles which were connected to separate syringes. The precursor's solutions were prepared by solving zinc acetate and tin chloride in polyvinyl alcohol solution, separately. The morphology and structure of nanofibres were observed by field emission scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques, before and after calcination. The final core/shell structure of the nanofibres was established as SnO2/ZnO, after calcination. Average diameters of the as-eletrospun and calcined core/shell nanofibres were about 190 and 97 nm, respectively.