High-Strength Carbon Nanotube Fibers from Purity Control by Atomized Catalytic Pyrolysis and Alignment Improvement by Continuous Large Prestraining

• Published in: Nano letters 2023-12, Vol.23 (23), p.10739-10747
• Main Authors: Shi, Hong Liang, Shi, Qiang Qiang, Zhan, Hang, Ai, Jin Jin, Chen, Yu Ting, Wang, Jian Nong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1530-6984; 1530-6992
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c02707

Transferring the high strength of individual carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to macroscopic fibers is still a major technical challenge. In this study, CNT fibers are wound from a hollow cylindrical assembly. In particular, atomized catalytic pyrolysis is utilized to produce the fiber and control its purity. The pristine fiber is then continuously prestrained to have a highly aligned structure for subsequent full densification. Experimental measurements show that the final fiber possesses a high tensile strength (8.0 GPa), specific strength (5.54 N tex–1 (tex: the weight (g) of a fiber of 1 km long)), Young’s modulus (350 GPa), and elongation at break (4%). Such an excellent combination is superior to that of any other existing fiber and attributed to the efficient stress transfer among the highly aligned and packed CNTs. Our study provides a new strategy involving atomized catalysis for developing superstrong CNT assemblies such as fibers and films for practical applications.