Understanding the evolution of mechanical and electrical properties of wet-spun PEDOT:PSS fibers with increasing carbon nanotube loading

Abstract

Unprecedented demands for advanced fiber materials have been raised by the quick development of wearable intelligent devices. It is still a significant problem to increase the mechanical qualities of fibers without compromising their chemical properties. The impact of different carbon nanotube (CNT) loading on the physical properties of wet-spun poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) fibers are explored in depth along with a wet spinning process for the continuous fabrication of PEDOT:PSS/CNT hybrid fibers. We discovered that the main challenge in a mechanically reinforced system of PEDOT:PSS fibers is to prevent the binding and aggregation of CNT within the fibres; enhancement is typically accomplished at 5 wt% CNT loadings. On the other hand, the conductivity of PEDOT:PSS fibers rises as CNT content increases. By applying the new understanding, the highly conductive PEDOT:PSS/CNT hybrid fiber exhibits greater rate performance and cycle stability in the electrochemical test is obtained. The PEDOT:PSS/CNT hybrid fiber-based fiber-shaped supercapacitors (FSC) have been assembled and they show good long-term cycle stability. Meanwhile, energy and power densities reach ∼16.05 mW h cm−3 and ∼13292 mW cm−3, respectively. This work provides a favorable reference for the mass production of fiber electrodes with high mechanical properties for energy storage.