Molecular dynamics simulations of electron irradiated PVDF nanofibers*

High-resolution, aberration corrected transmission electron microscopy was used to observe morphological changes and segmental motion of electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanofibers in an 80 kilovolt electron beam. Atomic and molecular scale high-resolution images of fibers were made with an aberration corrected electron microscope. Chemical and morphological changes, which include the breaking of the fiber, loss of fluorine atoms and cross-linking of chains, caused by the high-energy electron beam were observed. We present the results of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of such atomic and molecular level observations. The calculational models include the influence of chain scission, chain recoiling, and torsional defects on the morphology of a nanofiber. The effects of the loss of fluorine atoms and the applied tension on the morphology of the fibers were also investigated.