Carbon nanotubes in electrospun polyethylene oxide nanofibres: A potential route to conducting nanofibres

M Nazhipkyzy,S D Mohan,G R Mitchell,F J Davis

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/646/1/012007

Abstract

Polyethylene oxide solution containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes have been electrospun onto a rotating collector to produce highly aligned arrays of electrospun nanofibers ranging in diameters from (200 – 360) nanometres. The addition of a surfactant (Triton X-100) is highly effective in dispersing carbon nanotube within an aqueous solution of polyethylene oxide and the resulting mixture can be electrospun without excessive clumping to produce nanofibers containing high loadings of nanotubes; in this case up to 5% wt thereby providing an effective route to electrically conductive nanofibres.

Highlights

Electrospinning is a manufacturing technique that utilises an electric field to prepare micro- to nanoscale polymer fibres from a solution or melt [1]
Polyethylene oxide solution containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes have been electrospun onto a rotating collector to produce highly aligned arrays of electrospun nanofibers ranging in diameters from (200 – 360) nanometres
The addition of a surfactant (Triton X-100) is highly effective in dispersing carbon nanotube within an aqueous solution of polyethylene oxide and the resulting mixture can be electrospun without excessive clumping to produce nanofibers containing high loadings of nanotubes; in this case up to 5% wt thereby providing an effective route to electrically conductive nanofibres

Summary

Introduction

Electrospinning is a manufacturing technique that utilises an electric field to prepare micro- to nanoscale polymer fibres from a solution or melt [1]. The process works by application of a high voltage to a polymer solution contained within a spinneret. The fibres themselves boast impressive properties, which can be further improved with the addition of nanoparticles, for example carbon nanotubes (CNT’s), which have an abundance of properties ranging from thermal, optical, electrical and mechanical [2]. Nanoscale particle agglomeration from strong intermolecular forces must be overcome to aid in a uniform dispersion This can be facilitated through use of surfactants, for example in one such study Rastogi et al showed Triton X-100 providing a good nanotube dispersion [5]. In this study we propose a methodology for preparing nanofibers containing high concentrations of carbon nanotube loadings using the polymer matrix to retain the alignment of the tubes. For this study we selected polyethylene oxide as the encapsulating polymer as it can be processed in aqueous solution, i.e. without the use of volatile organic compounds and that it readily produces nano scale fibres

Materials and Methods

Methods

Results and Discussion

Conclusions