A Three-Dimensional Porous Conducting Polymer Composite with Ultralow Density and Highly Sensitive Pressure Sensing Properties

Abstract EN

An ultralight conducting polyaniline/SiC/polyacrylonitrile (PANI/SiC/PAN) composite was fabricated by in situ polymerization of aniline monomer on the surface of fibers in SiC/PAN aerogel.

The SiC/PAN aerogel was obtained by electrospinning, freeze-drying, and heat treatment.

The ingredient, morphology, structure, and electrical properties of the aerogel before and after in situ polymerization were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and voltage-current characteristic measurement.

The thermostability of PANI/SiC/PAN composite was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and electrical resistance measured at different temperatures.

The density of the PANI/SiC/PAN composite was approximately 0.211 g cm−3, the porosity was 76.44%, and the conductivity was 0.013 S m−1.

The pressure sensing properties were evaluated at room temperature.

The electrical resistance of as-prepared sample decreased gradually with the increase of pressure.

Furthermore, the pressure sensing process was reversible and the response time was short (about 1 s).

This composite may have application in pressure sensor field.