Electrospinning of functional ceramic nanofibers

Nanofibers are one dimensional solid state structures with high aspect ratio and high surface area to volume ratio. The enhanced functional properties associated with nano structures of these nanofibers attracted the researchers to study and explore for various functional applications. Ceramic nanofibers are quite interesting for various functional applications such as gas sensors, capacitors/dielectrics, piezo-electrics, membranes for water and air filtration, microwave shielding, energy harvesting and storage, miniaturized electronic devices, as reaction catalyst etc. Among different processing techniques for preparation of ceramic nanofibers, electrospinning is relatively a new/modern straightforward technique which generates perfect ceramic nanofibers. In this review article, an overview of preparation and characterization of various ceramic nanofibers such as alumina, samaria, manganese tetroxide, tin oxide, barium titanate, barium calcium tin titanate (BCSnT) and their possible functional applications is presented.