High performance flexible and antibacterial strain sensor based on silver‑carbon nanotubes coated cellulose/polyurethane nanofibrous membrane: Cellulose as reinforcing polymer blend and polydopamine as compatibilizer

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2022-12, Vol.223 (Pt A), p.184-192
• Main Authors: Wu, Ying, Xu, Lijie, Xia, Changlei, Gan, Lu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actibacterial strain sensor; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Cellulose; Cellulose - chemistry; Humans; Metal Nanoparticles; Nanotubes, Carbon; Polydopamine; Polymers - chemistry; Polyurethanes - chemistry; Silver
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.10.266

In this study, ethyl cellulose was used as the second-phase polymer blended with polyurethane to make nanofibrous membrane as antibacterial strain sensor. The results indicated that ethyl cellulose could regulate the morphology of polyurethane through strong hydrogen bonding, which observably enhanced the nanofiber uniformity of polyurethane. Furthermore, rigid cellulose also remarkably improved the mechanical strength and thermal stability of the nanofibrous membrane. After being coated with silver nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes assisted by polydopamine (PDA), the membrane with outstanding bacteria inhibition performance exhibited outstanding sensitivity toward external mechanical stretching, as well as real-time motion of human body parts. The conductive composite membrane possessed sensitive and regular resistance feedback to 100 cycles of varied human motions. The cellulose in the nanofiber structure ensured the shape recovery and longtime use stability of the membrane. This study proposed a novel thinking for the construction of high performance strain sensor by rational introduction of rigid polysaccharide into the polymer matrix. [Display omitted] •Ethyl cellulose as 2nd-phase polymer regulated the morphology of polyurethane nanofiber.•Ethyl cellulose enhanced the mechanical properties of nanofiber membrane.•Conductive membrane responded accurately to external strain and human body motions.•The membrane possessed remarkable antibacterial properties.