2D Ti3C2Tx (MXene)-reinforced polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers with enhanced mechanical and electrical properties

PLoS One. 2017 Aug 30;12(8):e0183705. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183705. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Novel 2D Ti3C2Tx (MXene)-reinforced polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers have been successfully fabricated by an electrospinning technique. The high aspect ratio, hydrophilic surfaces, and metallic conductivity of delaminated MXene nanosheet render it promising nanofiller for high performance nanocomposites. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were used to improve the mechanical properties of the nanofibers. The obtained electrospun nanofibers had diameter from 174 to 194 nm depending on ratio between PVA, CNC and MXene. Dynamic mechanical analysis demonstrated an increase in the elastic modulus from 392 MPa for neat PVA fibers to 855 MPa for fibers containing CNC and MXene at 25°C. Moreover, PVA nanofibers containing 0.14 wt. % Ti3C2Tx exhibited dc conductivity of 0.8 mS/cm conductivity which is superior compared to similar composites prepared using methods other than electrospinning. Improved mechanical and electrical characteristics of the Ti3C2Tx /CNC/PVA composites make them viable materials for high performance energy applications.

MeSH terms

  • Cellulose / chemistry
  • Electric Conductivity*
  • Electrochemical Techniques / instrumentation
  • Electrodes
  • Mechanical Phenomena*
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Nanocomposites / chemistry
  • Nanocomposites / ultrastructure
  • Nanofibers / chemistry*
  • Nanofibers / ultrastructure
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Polyvinyl Alcohol / chemistry*
  • Temperature
  • Thermogravimetry
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Polyvinyl Alcohol
  • Cellulose

Grants and funding

This work was made possible by NPRP grants # 7-1724-3–438, and 9-254-2-120 from the Qatar National Research Fund (A Member of Qatar Foundation).