Abstract
Developing methods to assemble nanomaterials into macroscopic scaffolds is of critical significance at the current stage of nanotechnology. However, the complications of the fabrication methods impede the widespread usages of newly developed materials even with the superior properties in many cases. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of a highly-efficient and potentially-continuous fiber-spinning method to produce high-performance carbon nanotube (CNT) fiber (CNTF). The processing time is <1 min from synthesis of CNTs to fabrication of highly densified and aligned CNTFs. CNTFs that are fabricated by the developed spinning method are ultra-lightweight, strong (specific tensile strength = 4.08 ± 0.25 Ntex−1), stiff (specific tensile modulus = 187.5 ± 7.4 Ntex−1), electrically conductive (2,270 S m2kg−1), and highly flexible (knot efficiency = 48 ± 15%), so they are suitable for various high-value fabric-based applications.
Highlights
Developing methods to assemble nanomaterials into macroscopic scaffolds is of critical significance at the current stage of nanotechnology
Synthesized hollow carbon nanotube (CNT) socks transformed to condensed fibers when they were drawn through the water bath
We roughly estimated the ratio of buoyancy force to viscous force which determines whether the backflow occurs in our vertical direct spinning system[22] and confirmed that most of our direct spinning conditions were within the range in which the backflow occurs
Summary
Developing methods to assemble nanomaterials into macroscopic scaffolds is of critical significance at the current stage of nanotechnology. As different approaches to synthesize highperformance CNTFs, various post-treatments have been performed on CNTFs that had been synthesized by the direct spinning method in which CNTFs are directly drawn from CNT aerogels formed in the CVD reactor. These treatments include the induction of chemical molecular crosslinking between CNTs7,8; liquid infiltration and subsequent densification[9,10,11,12]; polymer infiltration and sometimes subsequent carbonization[13]; mechanical densification[14,15]; and vapor phase carbon infiltration[16]. CNTFs usually have their own limitations and are, sometimes mutually incompatible; this may be a reason that the techniques have not made significant impact in real industry
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