Abstract
A novel technique for producing stretchable and flexible conductive polyurethane nanofibrous membrane for flexible electronics applications has been developed. One of the most important challenges in fabricating polymeric membranes for flexible electronics is to enhance its sensitivity and conductivity maintaining its flexibility and stertchability. Wet electrospinning technique was used to fabricate thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanofibers through a coagulant bath of a conductive grade co-polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS). A Kapton sheet was used as a substrate to load TPU/PEDOT: PSS nanofibers on it. The morphology and stability of the as-spun TPU/PEDOT: PSS nanofibers has been investigated. The fabricated TPU/PEDOT: PSS nanofibrous membrane has showed a well stabilized ohmic behaviour under a wide range of different temperatures up to 90 degrees C as well as different values of tensile strain up to 4.43 %, which makes it suitable for high temperature strain sensing applications.