Recent developments in synthesis techniques, characteristics and emerging applications of polymer nanofibers

Polymer nanofibers have become highly adaptable and versatile one-dimensional nanomaterials due to their large surface area, tunable porosity, mechanical flexibility, and ease of functionalization. Researchers discover a wide range of applications of polymer nanofiber in biomedical, environmental, and energy fields. This review highlights developments to the synthesis, properties, and multifunctional uses of polymer nanofibers and focuses on various fabrication approaches along with their pros and cons. The review also discusses a variety of key polymers, such as polyaniline, polyacrylonitrile, nylon, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyvinyl alcohol, polyurethane, and cellulose acetate, and their performance and structural properties for a number of applications. The characteristics of functionalized polymer nanofibers, including increased conductivity, adsorption efficiency, biocompatibility, and mechanical stability, make them excellent candidates for use as air and water filtration media, antimicrobial coatings, biosensing applications, tissue engineering, wound healing, drug delivery, smart textiles, and electrochemical energy storage devices. The use of nanofillers, bioactive agents, and hybrid structures is critically reviewed as a means of enhancing the performance and durability of these materials. The review concludes with a discussion on the challenges of scaling up production, reproducibility, sustainability, and long-term functionality and outlines the future opportunities in the area of multifunctional, biodegradable, and commercially viable nanofiber systems.