Improved piezoelectric performances of highly orientated poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) electrospun nanofiber membrane scaffold blended with multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Highly orientated poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PHB/MWCNTs) composite nanofiber membrane scaffold was fabricated by electrospinning followed by hot-stretching treatment. X-ray diffraction confirmed the presence of MWCNTs in the structure of PHB/MWCNTs composite. Compared with neat PHB nanofiber scaffold, PHB/MWCNTs composite nanofiber scaffolds contained higher content of beta-form crystals. The measured piezoelectric charge constant and induced electrical potentials generated on the surface of the nanofiber scaffolds indicated that addition of MWCNTs to PHB nanofiber matrix and hot-stretching treatment contributed to improving piezoelectric performances of PHB. The developed PHB/MWCNTs composite 'smart' nanofiber membrane is applicable for biomedical field, electronic sensors and actuators. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.