Graphene Interlocking Carbon Nanotubes for High-Strength and High-Conductivity Fibers

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are promising building blocks for the fabrication of novel fibers with structural and functional properties. However, the mechanical and electrical performances of carbon nanotube fibers (CNTFs) are far lower than the intrinsic properties of individual CNTs. Exploring methods for the controllable assembly and continuous preparation of high-performance CNTFs is still challenging. Herein, a graphene/chlorosulfonic acid-assisted wet-stretching method is developed to produce highly densified and well-aligned graphene/carbon nanotube fibers (G/CNTFs) with excellent mechanical and electrical performances. Graphene with small size and high quality can bridge the adjacent CNTs to avoid the interfacial slippage under deformation, which facilitates the formation of a robust architecture with abundant conductive pathways. Their ordered structure and enhanced interfacial interactions endow the fibers with both high strength (4.7 GPa) and high electrical conductivity (more than 2 × 106 S/m). G/CNTF-based lightweight wires show good flexibility and knittability, and the high-performance fiber heaters exhibit ultrafast electrothermal response over 1000 °C/s and a low operation voltage of 3 V. This method paves the way for optimizing the microstructures and producing high-strength and high-conductivity CNTFs, which are promising candidates for the high-value fiber-based applications.