A novel method for making silica nanofibres by using electrospun fibres of polyvinylalcohol/silica composite as precursor

For the first time, silica nanofibres with diameters of 200–400 nm were prepared by using electrospun fibres of polyvinylalcohol/silica composite as precursor. The products were characterized by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and x-ray diffractometry (XRD) methods. The results showed that the crystalline phase and morphology of silica fibres were substantially influenced by the calcination temperature. The amorphous silica nanofibres could be obtained at 550 º C.