Appraising the microstructure and electrical conductivity characteristics of polyaniline-coated natural fiber composites

Natural fibres are gaining attention for their eco-friendliness and mechanical properties, but their use in electrical applications is limited due to poor conductivity. This study investigates the effect of a polyaniline (PANI) coating on the electrical conductivity and structural properties of PANI-coated natural fibres, such as banana fibre (BF), sugarcane fibre (CF), pineapple fibre (AF), and sisal fibre (SF). Electrical conductivity was assessed using the four-probe method. The study found that the PANI coating significantly alters the electrical properties of the fibres. Specifically, sugarcane fibres coated with 100 wt% PANI showed the highest conductivity with a logarithm value of 0.33646 S/cm. This study demonstrates that PANI coating is a promising method for improving the electrical conductivity of natural fibres, thereby expanding their potential applications.