Electrically Conductive Membranes Obtained by Simultaneous Electrospinning and Electrospraying Processes

Abstract

Electrically conductive polyurethane nanostructured membranes have been prepared combining the electrospinning of polymer nanofibers (NFs) with the electrospraying of pristine multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in simultaneous processes. In order to have a better understanding of the distribution of MWCNTs on the surface of the membranes, the optimization of the electrospraying process has been carried out and the distribution of MWCNTs has been evaluated using image texture analysis techniques. Large membranes with a volume resistivity typical of electrostatic discharge materials with a MWCNTs concentration less than 0.3% wt (0.01 mg/cm2) have been obtained and characterized with morphological (SEM and TEM) and spectroscopic (UV-Vis, Raman) techniques.

Quantitative electrical homogeneity assessment of nanowire transparent electrodes

“…To optimize the significance of the homogeneity evaluation and expedite experimental inquiries, the range of grid resolutions can be adjusted to match the characteristic length scales of a particular NW electrode application. This flexibility further enhances the value of the proposed strategy, making it suitable for a wide range of applications such as battery electrodes, 59,60 conductive/piezoelectric membranes, [61][62][63] air filters with active sterilization, 37 and fuel cells. 64 In all these applications, the conduction process of a network of onedimensional components, such as nanowires, nanotubes, and nanofibers, ultimately determines the overall system response.…”