Polyethyleneimine Controlled Impregnation of Silver Nanowires on Electrospun Ceramic Sponges

Electrospun sponges with electrical conductivity are promising materials for electrodes with applications in pressure sensors, flexible wearable sensors, and supercapacitors. However, electrospun sponges display poor electric conductivity, which can be increased by the addition of silver nanowire (AgNW). The resulting electric conductivity may depend strongly on the distribution of the AgNW in and on the sponges. A straightforward assembly method for an elastic conductive sponge, composed of 3D structures and metal nanowires, using a synergistic strategy which involves modified impregnation and deposition processes assisted by polyethyleneimine (PEI) impregnation, is presented. The resulting changes in the material properties are also explored, and it is under specific conditions, that percolation, leading to significantly enhanced electrical conductivity in the sponges, is achieved.