Patent ID: 8518320

Claim:
A method for electrospinning a hydrophobic coaxial fiber into a superhydrophobic coaxial fiber mat, the method comprising: providing an electrospinning coaxial nozzle comprising a core outlet coaxial with a sheath outlet; ejecting an electrospinnable core solution from the core outlet of the electrospinning coaxial nozzle; ejecting a hydrophobic sheath solution from the sheath outlet of the electrospinning coaxial nozzle, wherein the hydrophobic sheath solution annularly surrounds the electrospinnable core solution; applying a voltage between the electrospinning coaxial nozzle and a collection plate, wherein the voltage induces a jet of the electrospinnable core solution annularly surrounded by the hydrophobic sheath solution to travel from the electrospinning coaxial nozzle to the collection plate to form the hydrophobic coaxial fiber comprising an electrospinnable polymer core coated with a hydrophobic sheath material; and wherein collection of the hydrophobic coaxial fiber on the collection plate yields the superhydrophobic coaxial fiber mat, and the superhydrophobic coaxial fiber mat possesses a contact angle greater than or equal to 150° with water.