Cellulose nanofiber-carbon nanotube/polyvinyl alcohol-borax hybrid conductive hydrogel

Cellulose nanofibers loaded with carbon nanotubes (CNF-CNT complexes) were well-dispersed in PVA-borax solution to form electrically conductive composite CNF-CNT/PVA-B hydrogel with a three-dimensional network structure, aiming to enhance the viscoelasticity, stiffness and conductivity of hydrogels. The results show that the micro-scale honeycomb cellular structure exists in CNF-CNT/PVA-B hydrogel. The CNF-CNT complexes form network and enhance viscoelasticity, stiffness and conductivity of hydrogels. When the CNT content is 0.5wt% in CNF-CNT/PVA-B hydrogel, the compressive strength and elastic modulus are 24 kPa and 53 kPa, the maximum and high-frequency plateau of shear modulus are 7 028 Pa and 6 945 Pa, and the conductivity is 0.8×10^-1 S·cm^-1, respectively.