Abstract
The carbon nanotube (CNT) is celebrated for its electrothermal property, which indicates the capability of a material to transform electrical energy into heat due to the Joule effect. The CNT nanostructure itself, as a one-dimensional material, limits the electron conduction path, thereby creating a unique heating phenomenon. In this work, we explore the possible correlation between CNT alignment in sheets and heating performance. The alignment of carbon nanotubes is induced by immersion and stretching in chlorosulfonic acid (CSA) solution. The developed CSA-stretched CNT sheet demonstrated excellent heating performance with a fast response rate of 6.5 °C/s and reached 180 °C in less than 30 s under a low voltage of 2.5 V. The heating profile of the stretched CNT sheet remained stable after bending and twisting movements, making it a suitable heating material for wearable devices, heatable smart windows, and in de-icing or defogging applications. The specific strength and specific conductance of the CSA-stretched CNT sheet also increased five- and two-fold, respectively, in comparison to the pristine CNT sheet.
Highlights
We show that chlorosulfonic acid (CSA)-stretched carbon nanotube (CNT) has three times the density, twice the specific strength, and five times the specific conductance of the as-synthesized CNT
The as-synthesized CNT sheet was cut into a rectangular strip with the longer side as the winding direction (Figure 1)
As the stretching ratio increased from 0% to 100%, the normalized specific tensile strength increased linearly from 0.2 times to 1.7 times that of the as-synthesized CNT in the parallel direction, i.e., along the winding direction (Figure 2B)
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Including strain sensors [10,11], electronic skins (E-Skins) [12], and high-performance flexible integrated circuits (ICs) [13]—there is growing interest in the application of CNTs as flexible macroscale heaters, with lower power-consumption, light weight, and fast heat response. Such heating devices holds great promise in solving many real-world problems—. The CSA-stretched CNT with the best properties was able to heat up to 180 ◦ C, when a small voltage of 2.5 V was applied, in less than 30 s—showing great promise as a heating element in small-voltage flexible heaters
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
