Graphene Interlocking Carbon Nanotubes for High-Strength and High-Conductivity Fibers

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are promising building blocks for the fabrication of novel fibers with structural and functional properties. However, the mechanical and electrical performances of carbon nanotube fibers (CNTFs) are far lower than the intrinsic properties of individual CNTs. Exploring methods for the controllable assembly and continuous preparation of highperformance CNTFs is still challenging. Herein, a graphene/ chlorosulfonic acid-assisted wet-stretching method is developed to produce highly densified and well-aligned graphene/carbon nanotube fibers (G/CNTFs) with excellent mechanical and electrical performances. Graphene with small size and high quality can bridge the adjacent CNTs to avoid the interfacial slippage under deformation, which facilitates the formation of a robust architecture with abundant conductive pathways. Their ordered structure and enhanced interfacial interactions endow the fibers with both high strength (4.7 GPa) and high electrical conductivity (more than 2 × 10 6 S/m). G/CNTF-based lightweight wires show good flexibility and knittability, and the high-performance fiber heaters exhibit ultrafast electrothermal response over 1000 °C/s and a low operation voltage of 3 V. This method paves the way for optimizing the microstructures and producing high-strength and high-conductivity CNTFs, which are promising candidates for the high-value fiberbased applications.

Wet-Spinning Assembly of Flexible, Ultratough, and Conductive Alkali Lignin Functionalized Graphene Oxide Composite Fibers for Fiber-Shaped Supercapacitor

“…As soon as the dispersion contacted the coagulation bath, a large number of hydrogen ions would diffuse into the dispersion solution rapidly, resulting in the aggregation and solidification of GO sheets immediately. 38,39 Thus, the disordered GO nanosheets and AL could be assembled into macroscopic GOF-AL with diameters of 30−60 μm through a wet-spinning process. Strong π−π stacking interactions caused the GO sheets to agglomerate, 40 and the AL was intercalated into GO sheets via potent noncovalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding and π−π stacking between AL and GO sheets, which could reduce the stacking of GO sheets and provide a uniform dispersion.…”

“…AL was difficult to dissolve in acidic solvents. As soon as the dispersion contacted the coagulation bath, a large number of hydrogen ions would diffuse into the dispersion solution rapidly, resulting in the aggregation and solidification of GO sheets immediately. , …”

Carbon nanotubes: a novel innovation as food supplements and biosensing for food safety

“…Due to their beneficial thermodynamic, electrical and chemical properties, CNTs have gained an important place in various economic sectors ( 47 ). The tensile strength and conductivity parameters allow CNTs to be used in the fabrication of a range of products ( 90 ). Table 2 illustrates some commercial products and companies that have utilized CNTs in the production of a range of products.…”

Wet Twisting in Spinning for Rapid and Cost‐Effective Fabrication of Superior Carbon Nanotube Yarns

“…Importantly, the twisted yarn-based heater possesses a high electrothermal response, and the heating rate can reach 1010 °C s −1 at a low voltage of 5 V, which is better than most yarn-based heaters (Figure 6c, Table S3, Supporting Information). [46][47][48][49][50][51][52] Besides, the heating rate of the twisted yarn-based heater is comparable with that of the hierarchically helical CNT fiber (≈1030 °C s −1 ) and Graphene/CNT fiber (1022 °C s −1 ). [46,47] This ultrafast thermal response is generally ascribed to high electrical and thermal conductivity, ultrasmall heat capacity per unit area, and a large radiation coefficient.…”