Facile Synthesis of Flexible Hollow Conductive Polyaniline Composite Fibers from Willow Catkins

Abstract

Catkin fibers, the white hairs on the seeds of willow, can float with the wind and send the seeds to a distant place. In this communication, flexible polyaniline/catkin composite fibers were prepared through in situ polymerization. Aniline was absorbed and polymerized on willow fibers, forming conductive hollow composite fibers. The as-prepared composite fibers show good conductivity of 10−1 S/cm. The composite fibers can be easily compressed into tablets, twisted together forming a rope, and bent at any angle. This good flexibility will be found potential application in the field of flexible electronic devices.

Keywords

• polyaniline
• willow catkin
• defatted willow catkin
• composite fibers