Preparation of the nafion/CNT nanofibers via electrospinning

Abstract

In this paper, we report the preparation of the Nafion/CNT nanofibers via electrospinning. PEO was added as carrier polymer to enhance the chain entanglements and therefore the electrospinnabilities of the nafion solution. Effects of the molecular weights of PEO on the electrospinnability were investigated. Three CNT samples, the CNT, CNT-150 and CNT-500 obtained from the ball-milling of the CNTs, were used and their particle size distributions were analyzed. Dispersions of the CNT, CNT-150 and CNT-500 in water and absolute ethanol were evaluated. Hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) was used to disperse the CNT to single particle. The CNT-500, with the lower average particle size of 298.2 nm and the PDI of 0.167, shows the best dispersion in water and ethanol solution. The nafion/CNT-500 nanofibers were prepared via electrospinning by adding PEO and have better electrospinnability and morphologies.