Multiwall-carbon-nanotube/cellulose composite fibers with enhanced mechanical and electrical properties by cellulose grafting

Abstract

Multiwall-carbon-nanotube (MWCNT)-cellulose/cellulose composite fibers with promoted mechanical and electronic activities were synthesized. Remarkably, the dispersion of MWCNTs in the composite fibers was facilitated through cellulose grafting, resulting in the tensile strength of the obtained MWCNT-cellulose/cellulose composite fibers being increased to 304.6 MPa with 10 wt% MWCNTs involved, which was almost 106.8% higher than that of pristine MWCNT/cellulose fibers with the same amount of MWCNTs. In addition, the electrical conductivity of the MWCNT-cellulose/cellulose composite fibers was enhanced to 1.3 × 10-1 S cm-1 with the dispersion of 10 wt% MWCNTs, which was almost 108 times higher than that of pristine MWCNT/cellulose fibers with the same amount of MWCNTs.