Electric Field-Induced Alignment of Fibers/CNTs in Triply Periodic Minimal Surface-Structured PDMS Composites

Carbon nanotube–polydimethylsiloxane (CNT–PDMS) composites hold significant potential using in flexible electronics and sensors, owing to their remarkable synergy between electrical conductivity and flexibility. However, current fabrication techniques face critical challenges such as the limited structural versatility of conventionally thermally cured PDMS, and the uneven dispersion and agglomeration of CNTs, hindering their fabrication and performance. This study tries to strike a balance between structural design flexibility and functional performance enhancement through the implementation of electric field-assisted strategies, offering a novel approach for the customization of flexible electronic devices. The electric field-induced alignment mechanism of CNTs and fibers within PDMS composites is studied. A comprehensive analysis of CNTs and fiber alignment in the PDMS solution is conducted, followed by characterization of CNT–PDMS. Ternary composites consisting of triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS)-structured carbon fibers and CNT-reinforced PDMS are fabricated by integrating liquid crystal display 3D-printed sacrificial templates with electric field-assisted alignment. Different TPMS structures and the effect of relative density on the compressive properties of the composites are studied.