Air Driven Electrospinning of CNT Doped Conductive Polymer Fibers for Electronics

An electrostatic and air driven (EStAD) electrospinning device was used to achieve deposition of polymer fiber mats that carry electrical charge. The EStAD device does not require the polymer stream to contact a deposition electrode, thereby allowing enhanced control and processing versatility over production of conductive polymer materials. Direct current (DC) conductivity in the fiber mats was enabled through the use of a composite multi-walled carbon nanotube-polyethylene oxide (MWCNT-PEO) blend for electrospinning (ES). The electrospun fiber mats contained three different concentrations of MWCNTs. Conductivity and resistance were measured for each concentration as an electrospun fiber mat and compared to that of a drop-cast thin film. Results showed that at 7.51 wt% MWCNTs, conductivity in the electrospun fiber mats began to approach that of the drop-cast thin films at 1.76E-01 S/cm. At the lowest weight percent tested (3.37 wt%), conductivity was still measurable at approximately 8.48E-05 S/cm and was comparable to results reported previously using traditional ES methods.