Development of MXene-enhanced polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers: a comprehensive study on synthesis and characterization

The integration of two-dimensional materials into polymer matrices has garnered significant attention in recent years owing to their potential to enhance the mechanical and electrical properties of composite materials. This study focuses on synthesizing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and Ti₃C₂T_x MXene into a nonwoven nanofiber (NF) composite mat using electrospinning. Following the electrospinning process, the fibers underwent pyrolysis, which is a crucial step that enhances their electrical conductivity and structural integrity. To characterize the nanofibers, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed. XRD and FTIR analyses confirmed the presence of both PVA and MXene, whereas SEM revealed improved morphological properties, including an increased surface area and a higher number of active sites. The Raman spectra provided insights into the defect densities, with the I_D/I_G ratio indicating that the incorporation of MXene and subsequent pyrolysis effectively increased the defect density in PVA while enhancing its amorphous nature. Importantly, electrical conductivity measurements demonstrated a substantial enhancement in the direct current conductivity of the pyrolyzed PVA-MXene composite fibers.