Synthesis and characterization of nanocellulose reinforced conductive hydrogel
The PVA/borate (PB) hydrogel was used as the basic skeleton of electro?conductive hydrogels (ECHs). Firstly, the cellulose nanofibers?polypyrrole( CNF?PPy) complex was obtained by in?situ polymerization of the pyrrole monomer in cellulose nanofibers( CNFs) . Then it was dispersed into the PB matrix. A double layer network structure, namely a CNF enhanced network and a PPy conductive network, was constructed in the colloid. A composite conduc?tive hydrogel with high plasticity and self?repairing properties was successfully prepared. The functional groups, micro morphology, crystal structure, rheological properties and electrical conductivity of the hydrogel were characterized. The results showed that the polymerization of PPy and CNF maintained the conjugate structure of PPy and thus its con?ductivity. The hydrogel microstructure presented a honeycomb?like porous structure, and the void diameter was about (4?62±0?05) μm. The average water content of the hydrogel was 90.61% and the average density was 1?13 g/cm3. With the increase of CNF and PPy content, the viscoelasticity and mechanical strength of the hydrogel were signifi?cantly enhanced. When the mass ratio of CNF was 2?0% and PPy was 0?5%, the storage modulus G′was up to 5?5 kPa which was about 70 times of the pure PB. The maximum stress that it could bear was 8-9 times higher than that of the hydrogel with 1.0% CNF and 0?5% PPy. The electrical conductivity reached up to 3?38×10-2 S/m. The ECHs not only has the unique physical and mechanical properties, but also has the electrical properties of conductive polymers. Therefore, the as?prepared ECHs are expected to be applied in the field of conductive films and electrical sensors.