Fabrication and characterization of electrospun PVA/Cs/CNT fibers

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/chitosan (CS) and PVA/ CS/carbon nanotube (CNT) nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and water contact angle (WCA) tests were used to evaluate the morphology and some properties of electrospun fibers. The results showed that the most appropriate mass ratio of PVA/Cs resulting in uniform and smooth nanofibers was 2.8:1, and this morphology was not affected by the addition of CNT. However, the presence of CNT caused a significant decrease in fibers’ diameter from 519 nm to 85 nm. The compatibility of CNT with PVA/Cs and crosslinking between the components was confirmed by the XRD and FTIR analysis. Improving the hydrophilic properties of the fibrous mat was admitted by the WCA test.Keywords: Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA);chitosan (CS); Carbon nanotube (CNT), Electrospinning