Polyaniline Electrospun Composite Nanofibers Reinforced with Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract Reinforcement of fibers was carried out by adding carbon black (CB), and hydroxylated and carboxylated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into electrospinning solution containing doped polyaniline (CSA-PANI) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN). CB/CSA-PANI/PAN and CNT/CSA-PANI/PAN electrospun nanofiber composite membrane was formed in high-voltage electric field. The CSA-PANI/CB/PAN fiber membrane was found to be more brittle than the MWCNTs/CSA-PANI/PAN fiber membrane. The average diameter of the CSA-PANI/CB/PAN nanofibers increased with CB addition, while the average diameter of CNT-added MWCNTs/CSA-PANI/PAN nanofibers decreased with increasing CNT concentrations. Upon greater CB and CNT addition, agglomeration occurred, and the surface of the fibers was raised slightly. The fracture strength of the nanofiber membrane was greatly improved with 1% added CB but then decreased upon further CB addition. Upon addition of CNTs, the fracture strength of the nanofiber membrane first increased and then decreased, and the addition of carboxylated CNTs was more advantageous for improving the fracture strength of the fiber membrane. The electromagnetic shielding performance of the fiber membranes was essentially the same for different radiation frequencies. Upon addition of CB and CNTs, the electromagnetic shielding performance of the fiber first increased and then decreased, with a more pronounced decrease obtained by the addition of CB.