Understanding the Mechanical and Conductive Properties of Carbon Nanotube Fibers for Smart Electronics

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 32; no. 5; pp. e1902028 - n/a
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xiaohua, Lu, Weibang, Zhou, Gengheng, Li, Qingwen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.02.2020
• Subjects: carbon nanotube fibers; Carbon nanotubes; conductive properties; Conductivity; Electronics; Fibers; hierarchical structures; Materials science; mechanical properties; Oxidation; Physical properties; Porosity; Product design; carbon nanotube fibers; hierarchical structures; conductive properties; mechanical properties
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.201902028

The development of fiber‐based smart electronics has provoked increasing demand for high‐performance and multifunctional fiber materials. Carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers, the 1D macroassembly of CNTs, have extensively been utilized to construct wearable electronics due to their unique integration of high porosity/surface area, desirable mechanical/physical properties, and extraordinary structural flexibility, as well as their novel corrosion/oxidation resistivity. To take full advantage of CNT fibers, it is essential to understand their mechanical and conductive properties. Herein, the recent progress regarding the intrinsic structure–property relationship of CNT fibers, as well as the strategies of enhancing their mechanical and conductive properties are briefly summarized, providing helpful guidance for scouting ideally structured CNT fibers for specific flexible electronic applications. Carbon nanotube fibers have extensively been utilized to construct wearable electronics, and their fundamental properties such as the mechanical and conductive behaviors are very crucial in affecting the electronics performance. Recent achievements and the underlying mechanisms are described and discussed toward future development in smart electronics.