Dependence of sheet resistance of nickel-plated PANi/PTT composite fabric on electroless plating conditions

Flexible and stretchable conductive composite fabrics have wide applications, including wearable sensors, antenna, electrodes, solar batteries, signal, or power transmission. For most of applications, the electrical conductive fabrics need a low sheet resistance and antioxidation. To improve the stability and the electrical conductivity of PANi/PTT composite conductive fabric, some conductive composite fabrics were prepared by electroless nickel plating on PANi/PTT composite fabrics in the aqueous nickel sulfate solutions. The sheet electrical properties of the composite fabric were evaluated by the van der Pauw method, and the effect of the chemical plating conditions such as reducing agent, complexing agent, and buffer agent concentrations were investigated on the sheet resistance as well as the mechanical properties of fabric substance. The results show that the lower sheet resistance of composite fabrics was observed at the concentrations of NiSO4, 25 g/L, NaH2PO2, 20 g/L, Na3C6H5O7, 15 g/L, CH3COONa, 20 g/L, respectively. Additionally, the mechanical properties of the Ni/PANi/PTT composite fabrics were improved in comparison with those of PANi/PTT composite fabrics.