AC frequency effects on high-throughput electrospinning for nanofibre production

Alternating current electrospinning (ACES) is emerging as a promising approach for industrial scale nanofibre production, offering the potential for higher throughput and energy efficiency compared to conventional direct current methods. This study presents a series of experiments conducted with a wire-type electrode system, aiming to evaluate the influence of key process parameters, namely alternating field frequency, applied voltage, current limitation, and wire speed-on both the productivity and quality of nanofibrous layers produced from polymer solutions. The results show that an appropriate combination of these parameters significantly enhances both areal weight (GSM) and productivity, while also identifying technological limits related to power supply performance. Furthermore, the effects of these parameters on fibre diameter and the overall quality of the nanofibrous structure are examined. These findings confirm the strong potential of ACES with wire-type electrodes for advancing continuous nanofibre production on an industrial scale, while also revealing critical technological constraints related to power-supply performance and jet stability. The insights gained provide an important foundation for the design of next-generation production lines with higher capacity, improved process stability, and enhanced energy efficiency, moving ACES closer to widespread industrial deployment.