Conductive Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Nanofiber Membranes with High Environmental Stability

Poly-(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) has good processability and design flexibility, making its conductive nanofiber membranes promising for bioelectronics and regenerative medicine. However, the hydrophilic nature of PVA results in poor water stability, which disrupts the conductive network and limits the environmental adaptability. In this study, conductive PVA nanofiber membranes with uniformly dispersed multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fabricated via electrospinning. The micromorphology and electrical and mechanical properties of nanofiber membranes were investigated. The results show that conductive pathways are established in nanofiber membranes by incorporating MWCNTs. Compared with pure PVA nanofiber membranes, those containing MWCNTs exhibit lower surface resistivity and improved mechanical properties. At a loading of 1.6 wt % MWCNTs, the membrane displayed a reduction in surface resistivity by 4 orders of magnitude (6.65 × 10⁷ Ω) and an increase in tensile strength by a factor of 3.2 (8.26 MPa). The resulting nanofiber membranes demonstrate excellent stability and durability upon exposure to acidic and alkaline media, thermal variations, and ultraviolet radiation. This study provides a viable strategy for the large-scale fabrication of nanofiber membranes for use in artificial nerve conduits.