Multifunctional characterization of carbon nanotube sheets, yarns, and their composites

Abstract

Carbon nanotube (CNT) based macroscopic objects such as dry-state free-standing sheets and yarns have attracted much attention during more than a decade for their multifunctional features. Thanks to their lightweight, highly conductive, mechanically strong and flexible properties, various applications had been explored so far. However, because of the difficulties in the spinnable CNT forest growth, the sample availability in the academic fields has been quite limited. In this report, various properties of CNT sheets, yarns, and their composites were experimentally presented using the samples prepared from the spinnable CNT forest grown in the newly installed, acetylene-based, chemical-vapor-deposition chamber system. Clear observation of the dimensional effect on the charge transport through CNTs, the enhancement of electro-mechanical actuation owing the volume-expandable infiltration material inside CNTs, and other exemplary evaluations proved the versatility of this macroscopic assembly as well as the good quality of our sample. © 2016 Elsevier B.V.