Development of MWCNT/SU-8 nanofiber composite using electrospinning technique for biosensing applications

This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of Multiwall Carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) embedded SU-8 negative photoresist nanofibers. These nanofiber composites were synthesized using electrospinning technique, a simple, robust and low cost technique for synthesizing nanofibers. MWCNTs were dispersed mechanically in SU-8 by high shear mixing using an ultrasonic homogenizer device. The mixture was then electrospun onto a pre-fabricated copper electrodes array on silicon substrate. The parameters of electrospinning are optimized to precisely position nanofibers in between two electrodes of the array. The electrical and morphological analyses of the electrospun MWCNTs embedded SU-8 nanofibers were carried out by current voltage measurements (I-V), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) method respectively. Also interaction between MWCNTs and SU-8 in the electrospun nanofibers was studied by XRD spectra and Raman spectra analysis. The maximum conductivity is achieved at 11% loading of carbon nanotubes and is suitable for conductometric based biosensors.