Study on the microstructure, electrical properties, and electric-heating performance of MWCNT/AgNW/cellulose hybrid fibers

Abstract

This study reports on the microstructure, structural characteristics, thermal stability, electrical property, and electric-heating performance of a series of hybrid cellulose fibers. For the purpose, we alternately dip-coated cellulose fibers with multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and silver nanowires (AgNW). The scanning electron microscopy image and X-ray diffraction patterns show that MWCNT and AgNW are sequentially coated on the surface of the cellulose fiber as the dip-coating cycle increases. This result is validated by the fact that the electrical conductivity of the MWCNT/AgNW/hybrid cellulose fiber increases by 0.23 S/cm from 3.94 × 10−9 S/cm in the longitudinal direction as the coating cycle increases after the seventh final coating. These results indicate that a highly effective and conductive MWCNT/AgNW network is layer-by-layer created on the cellulose fiber. This fiber exhibits stable electric-heating performance at a heating range of 2 × 3 cm for a network that is knitted using rib- and garter-stitches.