Carbon Nanotube-Adsorbed Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes of Nylon 6

• Published in: Macromolecular rapid communications. 2006-01, Vol.27 (2), p.146-151
• Main Authors: Kim, Hyun Suk, Jin, Hyoung-Joon, Myung, Seung Jun, Kang, Minsung, Chin, In-Joo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; composites; electrical conductivity; electrospinning; Exact sciences and technology; Exchange resins and membranes; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; multiwalled carbon nanotubes; nanofibrous membrane; nylon; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers
• ISSN: 1022-1336; 1521-3927
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.200500617

A simple and mass‐producible method was developed to densely assemble multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) onto electrospun nylon 6 nanofibrous membranes. The process consists of dispersing the acid‐treated MWNTs in surfactant solutions or organic solvents, and dipping the nanofibrous membranes in the resulting dispersion for only 60 seconds, followed by the extraction of the surfactants in pure water and drying. The conductivity of the MWNT‐adsorbed nanofibrous membranes ranges from 2.2 × 10−2 to 1.5 × 10−1 S · cm−1, as determined by the four probe method, which implies that the MWNTs are adsorbed uniformly and densely along the nanofibrous membranes. Furthermore, the results suggest that there is a strong interaction between the acid‐treated MWNTs and nylon 6. We also investigate the amount of MWNTs present in the membranes using thermogravimetric analysis. SEM images of the non‐woven fibrous nylon 6 membranes after dip‐coating in a dispersion of the MWNTs in surfactant‐containing water.