Innovative poly(2,6-dimethy-1,4-phenylene) oxide nanomaterials by shear spinning solution

Innovative poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene) oxide (PPO) nanostructured materials were produced using shear spinning process. Depending on the preparation procedures, both amorphous and crystalline nanomaterials with different morphologies and nanoporous crystalline phases were obtained. These PPO nanomaterials exhibit a high ability to absorb VOCs from water even at extremely low concentrations being considerably higher than PPO fibers obtained by conventional melt-spinning process. The preparation of composite nanomaterials with photocatalyst by shear spinning is also reported. The outstanding sorption properties and the possibility to obtain composite nanomaterials with photocatalyst make the shear spun PPO nanomaterials particularly interesting for potential application in water purification process. • Characterization of PPO nanomaterials obtained by shear-spinning process. • Removal of VOC from water by PPO porous nanomaterials • Preparation of composite PPO/ZnO nanofibers by shear-spinning.