A collaborative team from Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech), Ural Federal University, and other institutions has published innovative research in Polymer Composites, developing a new multifunctional composite material based on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The study, co-led by Hassaan Ahmad Butt and Dmitry Krasnikov, breaks through the performance limitations of traditional nanomaterial applications.

The research found that adding an extremely small amount (approximately 0.005wt%) of SWCNTs can significantly enhance the overall performance of composite materials. Professor Albert Nasibulin, head of the Nanomaterials Laboratory, noted: "This achievement makes industrial application of SWCNTs much more attractive." Compared to conventional multi-walled carbon nanotubes, SWCNTs exhibit superior mechanical properties, electrical and thermal conductivity, and self-sensing capabilities.

Notably, the process demonstrates high tolerance for quality defects in SWCNTs, substantially reducing production costs and technical barriers. Through collaboration with the aerospace sector, the team has validated the material’s feasibility for industrial-scale applications, paving the way for the development of more cost-effective and high-performance composite materials.