Conductive Cable Fibers with Insulating Surface Prepared by Coaxial Electrospinning of Multiwalled Nanotubes and Cellulose

Abstract

A core-sheath of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT)-cellulose fibers of diameters from several hundreds nm to several µm were prepared by co-axial electrospinning from a non-valatile, non-flammable ionic liquid (IL) solvent, 1-methyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM][Ac]). MWNTs were dispersed in IL to form a gel solution. This gel core solution was electrospun surrounded by a sheath solution of cellulose disolved in the same IL. Electrospun fibers were collected in a coagulation bath containing ethanol-water to completely remove the IL and dried to form a core-sheath MWNT-cellulose fibers having a cable structure with a conductive core and insulating sheath. Enzymatic treatment of a portion of a mat of these fibers with cellulase selectively removed the cellulose sheath exposing the MWNT core for connection to an electrode. These MWNT-cellulose fiber mats demonstrated excellent conductivity due to a conductive pathway of bundleled MWNTs. Fiber mat conductivity increased with increasing ratio of MWNT in the fibers with a maximum conductivity of 10.7 S/m obtained at 45 wt% MWNT loading.

Polysaccharide-based nanocomposites and their applications

“…Conductive cable fibers with an insulating surface were prepared by coaxial electrospinning of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and cellulose [22]. Both the nanotubes and the cellulose were dissolved in ionic liquid, and then wet-wet electrospun into a water/ethanol coagulation bath.…”

“…Heparin retains its expected plasma-based anticoagulant activity when immobilized, resulting in blood-compatible MWCNTs [64]. Core-sheath MWCNT-cellulose fibers have been prepared by coaxial electrospinning [22]. The MWCNT-cellulose fibers formed a cable structure with a conductive core and insulating sheath and fiber mats demonstrated excellent conductivity because of a conductive pathway of bundled MWCNTs.…”

Progress in Imidazolium Ionic Liquids Assisted Fabrication of Carbon Nanotube and Graphene Polymer Composites

“…This method can be used to fabricate the potential precursors of the cellulose-based carbon fibers. Linhardt et al [146] have fabricated the core-sheath MWCNT-cellulose fibers by coaxial electrospinning from a solution of 1-methyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (MmimAc). The electrospun fibers were collected in a coagulation bath of ethanol and water, and exhibit a conductivity of up to 10.7 S·m −1 at 45 wt % loading.…”

Coaxial electrospinning preparation and properties of magnetic–photoluminescent bifunctional CoFe2O4@Y2O3:Eu3+ coaxial nanofibers

“…Some inorganic and organic nanomaterials have been prepared by electrospinning technique [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Recently, coaxial electrospinning provides an alternative route to design and fabricate new functionalized composite nanofibers with core-shell structures [8,9].…”