Preparation, morphology, and mechanical properties of carbon nanotube anchored polymer nanofiber composite

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were anchored onto electrospun nanofibers under the assistance of ultrasonication. During ultrasonication, CNTs in the dispersion medium were driven to hit the nanofibers intensively and could be uniformly embedded onto nanofiber surface. The interaction between CNTs and dispersion medium played a vital role in determining CNT decoration. Good dispersion of CNTs in the dispersion medium could prevent CNT migration towards the electrospun nanofibers, because CNTs were trapped in the solution rather than attached onto the nanofiber surface. In addition, the ultrasonication power and time, CNT initial dispersion and the type of dispersion medium can influence the ultimate morphology of the hierarchical nanofiber composite. It was also supported by nanoindentation measurements that the hardness and Young’s modulus for the CNT anchored nanofiber mat significantly increased, compared with that for the pure electrospun nanofibers.