Effects of Ti₃C₂T_x MXene Nanofillers on the Rheological and Morphological Characteristics of Electrospun PVDF Nanofibers

Herein, the morphological and rheological properties of MXene/Polyvinylidene fluoride nanofiber composites are studied and evaluated. First, the transition carbides and nitrides (MXenes) are synthesized using the minimally intensive layered method (MILD) followed by subsequent characterizations. Second, the rheological properties of MXene/PVDF solutions were studied as a function of MXene concentration increment from 0 wt.%, to 13 wt.%. Subsequently, MXenes with different concentrations were impregnated into PVDF nanofibers using electrospinning technology to fabricate MXene/PVDF nanofiber composites. The surface morphologies of MXene/PVDF nanofiber composites are analyzed using Field Emission Scan Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The findings indicated that increasing MXene nanofillers loadings into the PVDF polymeric matrix not only influenced the rheological properties (density, viscosity, surface tension, and contact angle) but also slight irregularities are observed at higher MXene loadings (9 wt.% and 13 wt.%) such as larger fiber diameters, and rougher surfaces which are attributed to the presence of MXene nanoflakes within the fiber axis.