Abstract
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have long been at the forefront of materials research, with applications ranging from composites for increased tensile strength in construction and sports equipment to transistor switches and solar cell electrodes in energy applications. There remains untapped potential still when it comes to energy and data transmission, with our group having previously demonstrated a working ethernet cable composed of CNT fibers. Material composition, electrical resistance, and electrical capacitance all play a strong role in the making of high-quality microphone and headphone cables, and the work herein describes the formation of a proof-of-concept CNT audio cable. Testing was done compared to commercial cables, with frequency response measurements performed for further objective testing. The results show performance is on par with commercial cables, and the CNTs being grown from waste plastics as a carbon source further adds to the value proposition, while also being environmentally friendly.
Highlights
Plastics to Carbon Nanotube AudioCarbon nanotube (CNT) research has been actively ongoing for the better part of three decades and has been found to exist for even longer than that
The results show that the Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/Cu audio cable was capable of replacing commercial microphone cables
The scope of this work was initially limited to the use of CNTs, which were produced from carbon sources including polystyrene, to make for an audio cable that can be used for public outreach demonstrations and simple “show and tell” sessions to better showcase the potential of carbon nanotubes from upcycled plastics
Summary
Carbon nanotube (CNT) research has been actively ongoing for the better part of three decades and has been found to exist for even longer than that. There is a lot of potential due to the untapped properties of CNTs, and this has led to their use in various fields ranging from sports equipment and composites in construction and manufacturing to electrical and/or thermal conductors in energy applications, transportation, and even as art pieces and extremely dark paint owing to their high specific surface area and light absorption, [1,2,3,4,5] When it comes to electricity transmission, CNTs are often paired with other metals or doped to increase the electrical conductivity, with the current state-of-the art in CNT research yet to wholly replace the likes of copper and aluminum for the electric grid [5]. The electrical resistance of the individual cables and the raw materials were measured, as was the copper as a control, and the results show the CNT/Cu cables are a viable alternative to commercial copper cables for audio transmission
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