Grooved TiO2/ZrO2 ceramic fibers with thermal insulation and mechanical properties prepared by coaxial electrospinning

In this study, grooved TiO 2 /ZrO 2 ceramic fibers were prepared via coaxial electrospinning, which exhibit enhanced thermal insulation and superior mechanical properties. The fibers were architected with a distinctive core-shell structure, comprising a TiO 2 shell that serves as an effective radiation shield and a ZrO 2 core that maintains mechanical robustness. The interdiffusion of Zr and Ti atoms at the interface facilitated a seamless transition between TiO 2 and ZrO 2 , effectively inhibiting TiO 2 grain coarsening and substantially enhancing the tensile strength of the fibers, exemplified by the 1.47 ± 0.08 MPa achieved in the TZ-5 sample. Through control of the injection rate during electrospinning, we optimized the fibrous morphology to attain a synergistic balance of strength, flexibility and thermal insulation. The fibers showcased exceptional thermal insulation properties with thermal conductivity values ranging from 0.0294 to 0.0278 W m −1  K −1 and an average infrared reflectance exceeding 87 %. Practical thermal insulation tests confirmed the superior insulation performance of the TiO 2 /ZrO 2 fibrous membranes.