Formulation of tunneling resistance between neighboring carbon nanotubes in polymer nanocomposites

Abstract

We aim to express the tunneling resistance in polymer nanocomposites by carbon nanotube (CNT) concentration, interphase depth, CNT curliness, tunneling distance, interfacial tension, network portion and CNT size. The suggested equation is applied to determine the tunneling resistance in some specimens and to estimate the inspirations of dissimilar parameters on the tunneling resistance. The samples do not show a determinate trend between tunneling resistance and filler concentration. Some factors including tunneling distance, percolation onset, CNT content and CNT curliness directly manage the tunneling resistance. Therefore, short tunneling distance, small percolation onset, low CNT content and low CNT curliness produce the poor tunneling resistance. Nonetheless, the resistance of tunnels inversely depends on the portion of attached CNTs, CNT conductivity, CNT length, interphase depth, CNT radius and interfacial tension (i.e. the high levels of these parameters cause the low tunneling resistance). Among the studied parameters, tunneling distance and percolation threshold are the most important parameters manipulating the tunneling resistance, whereas the concentration and length of CNTs have the least effects. As a result, low tunneling distance and small percolation threshold are vital to reduce the tunneling resistance and obtain the conductive nanocomposites.