Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Conductive Network to Enhance the Electrical Conductivity of Graphene-Hybridized Polymeric Fibers

Abstract

With the rapid development of wearable electronic textiles, flexible and knittable polymer conductive fibers have received unprecedented attention from researchers. Practical applications of these devices are, however, impeded by their low electrical conductivity and suboptimal mechanical properties. In this study, we demonstrate an organic–inorganic hybrid strategy to build a conductive network in polymeric fibers (CPFs) at low GnP loading using an industrial wet-spinning method. Both the conductivity and spinnability of wet-spun graphene-hybridized poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA/GnP) fibers are systematically investigated. A secondary additive, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly (styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is also incorporated for the fabrication of newly hybridized PVA/GnP/PEDOT:PSS (denoted as PVA/GnP/S) fibers. In addition, a hybrid synergistic effect that features a synergistic enhancement of their conductivity (33.6 S/m) has also been well demonstrated. Meanwhile, this type of hybrid fiber maintains its excellent mechanical performance (4.82 cN/dtex with a 16.2% strain) even after subsequent twisting and weaving into conductive fabrics. As an electron transport carrier, this fiber can widely be applied in wearable electronics.