Soft-Templated Synthesis Of Lightweight, Elastic, And Conductive Nanotube Aerogels

Keywords

compressibility; conductive polymers; electrical conductivity; hydrogels and aerogels; nanotubes

Abstract

Conductive polymer (CP) nanotubes are fascinating nanostructures with high electrical conductivity, fast charge/discharge capability, and high mechanical strength. Despite these attractive physical properties, progress in the synthesis of CP nanotube hydrogels is still limited. Here, we report a facile and effective approach for the synthesis of polypyrrole (PPy) nanotube hydrogels by using the weakly interconnected network of self-assembled nanotubes of lithocholic acid as a soft template. The PPy nanotube hydrogels are then converted to aerogels by freeze drying, in which PPy nanotubes form elastic and conductive networks with a density of 38 mg/cm3 and an electrical conductivity of 1.13 S/m. The PPy nanotube aerogels are able to sustain a compressive strain as high as 70% and show an excellent cyclic compressibility due to their robust nanotube networks and hierarchically porous structures, which allow the compressive stress to be easily dissipated. Furthermore, PPy nanotube aerogels show negative strain-dependent electrical resistance changes under compressive strains. The lightweight, elastic, and conductive PPy nanotube aerogels may find potential applications in strain sensors, supercapacitors, and tissue scaffolds.

Publication Date

10-31-2018

Publication Title

ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

Volume

10

Issue

43

Number of Pages

37426-37433

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.8b14071

Socpus ID

85055353536 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85055353536

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