Different methods of fabricating conductive nanofibers

Abstract

Conductive nanofibers can be produced by different methods. In this study, four different methods to fabricate conductive nanofibers were explained and supported with experimental results. Nanofibers were made conductive by fabricating nanofibers from intrinsically conductive polymers (polyaniline/polyethylene oxide nanofiber production), coating the non-conductive nanofiber mat with a conductive material (copper electroplating of polyacrylonitrile nanofibers), adding a conducting material (carbon black nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles, ionic liquid) into the spinning solution, and heat treatment of the nanofiber mat (carbon and ITO nanofiber production). The surface and the electrical properties of the nanofibers were investigated. The advantages and disadvantages of the methods were discussed in detail. The results showed that conductive nanofibers can be successfully produced with different electrical conductivities depending on the method and the material.