Wet-Spinning Assembly of Continuous, Highly Stable Hyaluronic/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Microfibers

Abstract

Effective multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) fiber manufacturing methods have received a substantial amount of attention due to the low cost and excellent properties of MWCNTs. Here, we fabricated hybrid microfibers composed of hyaluronic acid (HA) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by a wet-spinning method. HA acts as a biosurfactant and an ionic crosslinker, which improves the dispersion of MWCNTs and helps MWCNT to assemble into microfibers. The effects of HA concentration, dispersion time, injection speed, and MWCNT concentration on the formation, mechanical behavior, and conductivity of the HA/MWCNT hybrid microfibers were comprehensively investigated through SEM, UV-Vis spectroscopy, tensile testing, and conductivity testing. The obtained HA/MWCNT hybrid microfibers presented excellent tensile properties in regard to Young’s modulus (9.04 ± 1.13 GPa) and tensile strength (130.25 ± 10.78 MPa), and excellent flexibility and stability due to the superior mechanical and electrical properties of MWCNTs. This work presents an effective and easy-to-handle preparation method for high-performance MWCNT hybrid microfibers assembly, and the obtained HA/MWCNT hybrid microfibers have promising applications in the fields of energy storage, sensors, micro devices, intelligent materials, and high-performance fiber-reinforced composites.

Hyaluronan-Based Nanofibers: Fabrication, Characterization and Application

“…HA-based fibers with specific additives are also known. For instance, Ting Zheng et al [45] developed hyaluronan-based fibers filled by multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Once again, hyaluronan was dissolved in distilled water with a consequent addition of multiwalled carbon nanotubes.…”

“…Fabricated hybrid microfibers composed of HA (M W 41-65 kDa) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) by a wet-spinning method have been prepared [45]. HA acts as a biosurfactant and an ionic crosslinker, which improves the dispersion of MWCNTs and helps MWCNT to assemble into microfibers.…”

Integration of Conductive Materials with Textile Structures, an Overview

“…Zheng et al used the wet-spinning method to fabricate hybrid microfibers composed of hyaluronic acid and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The obtained hybrid microfibers presented excellent tensile properties with Young's modulus of 9.04 ± 1.13 GPa and tensile strength of 130.25 ± 10.78 MPa, and excellent flexibility and stability [93]. Åkerfeldt et al also used the melt spinning technique to produce a fully textile piezoelectric strain sensor, consisting of bi-component fiber yarns of β-crystalline poly(vinylidene fluoride) sheath and conductive high-density polyethylene/carbon black core as insertions in a woven textile, with conductive PEDOT:PSS coatings developed for textile applications [100].…”

“…Smart materials are incorporated into the textile structure by different technologies; embroidering [90], knitting [91], weaving [92], spinning [93], braiding [94], coating [66], printing [84], plating [95] and chemicals that provide specific features such as controlled hydrophobic behavior [4]. The techniques of integrating a conductive material in/onto a textile structure can be categorized based on the form of the starting conductive material they use.…”

Carbon-Based Polymer Nanocomposites for High-Performance Applications

“…High-performance hybrid microfibers comprising hyaluronic acid and MWCNTs have been prepared by a wet-spinning method [34]. The matrix acts as a biosurfactant and a crosslinker, thereby improving the MWCNT dispersion.…”