Electrospinning of Polyaniline (PANi) Nanofibers: Effect of Electrospinning Parameters on the Conductivity of Electrospun Nanofibrous Mats

Abstract

In this work, we have developed a new protocol to prepare conductive polyaniline (PANi) nanofibrous mats via an electrospinning process. The newly developed method started with doping pure polyaniline with concentrated sulphuric acid. The doped PANi is then blended with other spinnable polymers such as Polyacrylonitrile (PAN). The prepared blend is then converted into a solid nanofibrous mat using an electrospinning process. Different parameters, such as solution weight fractions, electrospinning voltage, and feed rate, were optimized and their effect on fibre morphology and conductivity were studied. Several measurement techniques were used to assess the properties of the developed mats. The measurements include Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), the intrinsic conductivity of PANi fibres and the conductivity of fibrous mats. Results revealed a direct relationship between the average fibre diameter and the morphology and the conductivities of both the fibres and the mats. Doped polyaniline showed higher conductivity compared with the pure one with an increase in average fibre diameters. Blending polyaniline with PAN improved the mat's morphology and affects their conductivities. In addition, electrospinning process parameters such as feed rate and applied voltage showed a major effect on the fibre’s morphology and conductivity.