Enhanced adhesion and dispersion of carbon nanotube in PANI/PEO electrospun fibers for shielding effectiveness of electromagnetic interference

Polyaniline-based fibers were fabricated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and polyethylene oxide by the electrospinning method to be employed as an electromagnetic interference shielding material. To improve the electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency, the dispersion and adhesion of the carbon nanotubes in the polyaniline electrospun fibers were enhanced through surface modification by the direct fluorination method. This fluorination treatment enhanced the electron donor–acceptor reaction between the fibers and nanotubes, causing adhesive bonding for high electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency. The electrical conductivity improved with the addition of the carbon nanotubes and the fluorination treatment of the carbon nanotubes, reaching up to 4.8 × 103 S/m. The scanning electron microscope images showed well-oriented carbon nanotubes inside of the polyaniline fibers based on the effects of the fluorination. Investigating the electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency mechanism confirmed that absorption was the main reaction that shielded the electromagnetic interference. Eventually, an improved electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency of 42 dB was obtained.