Exploiting high quality PEDOT:PSS–SWNT composite formulations for wet-spinning multifunctional fibers

Abstract

In order to exploit the inherent properties of carbon nanotubes (CNT) in any polymer composite, systematic control of carbon nanotube loading and protocols that mitigate against CNT bundling are required. If such composites are to be rendered in fiber form via wet-spinning, then CNT bundling during the coagulation process must also be avoided. Here we have achieved this by utilizing highly exfoliated single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonicacid) (PEDOT:PSS) to obtain wet-spinnable composite formulations at various nanotube volume fractions (V_f). The addition of only 0.02 V_f of aggregate-free and individually dispersed SWNT resulted in a significant enhancement of modulus, tensile strength, electrical conductivity and two cell electrode specific capacitance of PEDOT:PSS–SWNT composite fibers to 5.2 GPa, 200 MPa, 450 S cm⁻¹ and 59 F g⁻¹ by the rate of dY/dV_f = 89 GPa, dσ/dV_f = 3.2 GPa, dS/dV_f = 13 300 S cm⁻¹ and 6 folds, respectively.