LAUSR

Abstract In the present study, a new approach for the fabrication of silver based highly conductive and stretchable hollow fiber is reported. Polyurethane hollow fibers with inner wall deposited with silver nanowires (AgNWs) were prepared using wet spinning process. The effect of AgNWs concentration and bore fluid flow rate on the conductivity and stretchability of the hollow fibers was investigated. These fibers showed very high conductivity of ∼1.52 × 104 S/cm at a very low concentration of AgNWs (∼0.46 wt%). They also showed good retention of conductivity even at 100% strain, which remained stable with repeated cycling. These properties were mainly attributed to the deposition of AgNWs in the form of three distinct layers, namely embedded, anchoring and topmost AgNWs clusters.