title: Fabrication and electromechanical characterization of near-field electrospun composite fibers.
abstract: We report the use of near-field electrospinning (NFES) as a route to fabricate composite electrodes. Electrodes made of composite fibers of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in polyethylene oxide (PEO) are formed via liquid deposition, with precise control over their configuration. The electromechanical properties of free-standing fibers and fibers deposited on elastic substrates are studied in detail. In particular, we examine the elastic deformation limit of the resulting free-standing fibers and find, similarly to bulk PEO composites, that the plastic deformation onset is below 2% of tensile strain. In comparison, the apparent deformation limit is much improved when the fibers are integrated onto a stretchable, elastic substrate. It is hoped that the NFES fabrication protocol presented here can provide a platform to direct-write polymeric electrodes, and to integrate both stiff and soft electrodes onto a variety of polymeric substrates.
authors.affiliation: Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J J Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, UK. yysh2@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Y Y S
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Terentjev
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oppenheim
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lacour
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Welland
mesh_terms: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D017097:Electric Impedance; D008839:Microelectrodes; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C013830:baysilon