Preparation of Shell/Core Atypical Spiral Conductive Microfibers and Composite Membrane with Good Conductivity and Mechanical Properties

• Published in: Macromolecular materials and engineering Vol. 307; no. 11
• Main Authors: Ding, Shuiting, Guo, Yongshi, Yu, Hui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.11.2022
• Subjects: calcium alginate; conductive fibers; Electrical resistivity; Mechanical properties; Membranes; Microfibers; microfluidic spinning; Microfluidics; poly (3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene); poly (styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS); Polydimethylsiloxane; Smart sensors; spiral fibers; Strain; Textiles
• DOI: 10.1002/mame.202200400
• ISSN: 1438-7492

Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) core–shell conductive atypical spiral microfibers are prepared based on microfluidic spinning technology (MST). The formation mechanism of the special‐shaped spiral structure is analyzed. The microfibers and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) are composited into membranes, and the microfibers and composite membranes are characterized. The research results show that the conductivity of shell conductive bulbine‐torta (BT) microfibers and the composite membrane are 0.125 1 and 0.880 2 s cm−1, respectively. The maximum strain of a single PEDOT: PSS core–shell conductive BT microfibers is 36.92% under a stress of 213.10 kPa, and the maximum strain of the composite membrane is 107.46% under a stress of 470.56 kPa, indicating that the composite membrane can effectively improve the properties and practicability of the conductive fiber. The change of resistivity of the composite membrane in the stretched state is observed, and it is found that the resistivity first steadily increases and then increases exponentially, indicating that composite membrane has potential application prospects in the fields of thin membrane sensors, electronic skins, smart wearable textiles, etc. A new type of shell/core conductive microfibers with atypical spiral structure is prepared based on microfluidic spinning technology, and the conductive microfibers are composited with PDMS materials to form a membrane. The motion amplitude and frequency of the mover can be reflected through different resistance changes, and the composite membrane also can be used to prepare flexible electrodes.