Preparation of whisker carbon nanotube composite paper by vacuum filtration method and its electrical heating performance

• Published in: Carbon Letters Vol. 34; no. 8; pp. 2127 - 2136
• Main Authors: Chen, Ru, Zhang, Xin, Song, Jinghui, Cao, Xinmiao, Zhao, Guangtai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Nature Singapore 01.10.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aspect ratio; Carbon; Carbon nanotubes; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Comparative studies; Crystal defects; Degree of crystallinity; Electric potential; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Electrons; Filtration; Flexibility; Heat; Heating; Materials Engineering; Materials Science; Mechanical properties; Nanotechnology; Nanotubes; Original Article; Polyvinyl alcohol; Raman spectroscopy; Surface temperature; Surfactants; Temperature; Thickness; Vacuum; Vacuum filtration; Voltage; Whisker composites; X-ray diffraction; China; Japan; Whisker carbon nanotubes; Mixing; Gradient composite; Electrical heating; Vacuum filtration
• ISSN: 1976-4251; 2233-4998
• DOI: 10.1007/s42823-024-00750-0

This study delves into the potential application of whisker carbon nanotube (w-CNT) in terms of electrical heating performance, with a particular emphasis on its significance in high-efficiency electrothermal conversion applications. Meanwhile, a comparative study was conducted on traditional carbon nanotubes (T1 and T3) with different aspect ratios. A uniform and dense carbon nanotube paper (BP) was prepared using a vacuum filtration method, including single-layer (T1, T3 and w-CNT BP), double-layer gradient composite (T1/T3-g, w-CNT/T3-g), and mixed composite (T1/T3-m and w-CNT/T3-m). The thickness of each type of BP is approximately 100 µm. The results demonstrated that electrical conductivity and electrical heating performance of single-layer BPs follow the order of T1 > T3 > w-CNT. While, mixed composite BPs are superior to double-layer gradient composite BPs in electrical conductivity and thermal performance. Notably, w-CNT/T3-m BP exhibits excellent electrothermal performance. Under an applied voltage of 5 V, the surface temperature of w-CNT/T3-m BP reaches 190 ℃. When the voltage is increased to 6 V, the surface temperature rises by 150℃ within 10 s, reaching a steady-state temperature of 318 ℃. This excellent electrothermal performance can be attributed to the introduction of w-CNT, which has a perfect and defect free structure according to Raman analysis. In-depth analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated a more complete and higher degree of crystallinity in the w-CNT structure. In summary, this study not only provides experimental and theoretical basis for the application of high-performance electrothermal materials based on carbon nanotubes, but also foreshadows their broad application prospects in the field of macroscopic materials.