# Conductive Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Nanofiber Membranes with High Environmental Stability

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a new conductive nanofiber membrane made of PVA and carbon nanotubes that is stable in harsh environments, suitable for bioelectronics and regenerative medicine.

## Contribution

A novel fabrication method for PVA/MWCNT nanofiber membranes with high environmental stability and conductivity is presented.

## Key findings

- Incorporating MWCNTs establishes conductive pathways in PVA nanofiber membranes.
- At 1.6 wt% MWCNTs, surface resistivity decreases by 4 orders of magnitude and tensile strength increases by 3.2 times.
- The membranes show excellent stability in acidic, alkaline, thermal, and UV conditions.

## Abstract

Poly­(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) has good processability and
design flexibility,
making its conductive nanofiber membranes promising for bioelectronics
and regenerative medicine. However, the hydrophilic nature of PVA
results in poor water stability, which disrupts the conductive network
and limits the environmental adaptability. In this study, conductive
PVA nanofiber membranes with uniformly dispersed multiwalled carbon
nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fabricated via electrospinning. The micromorphology
and electrical and mechanical properties of nanofiber membranes were
investigated. The results show that conductive pathways are established
in nanofiber membranes by incorporating MWCNTs. Compared with pure
PVA nanofiber membranes, those containing MWCNTs exhibit lower surface
resistivity and improved mechanical properties. At a loading of 1.6
wt % MWCNTs, the membrane displayed a reduction in surface resistivity
by 4 orders of magnitude (6.65 × 107 Ω) and
an increase in tensile strength by a factor of 3.2 (8.26 MPa). The
resulting nanofiber membranes demonstrate excellent stability and
durability upon exposure to acidic and alkaline media, thermal variations,
and ultraviolet radiation. This study provides a viable strategy for
the large-scale fabrication of nanofiber membranes for use in artificial
nerve conduits.