en.Wedoany.com Reported - The team led by Juan Vilatela at the IMDEA Materials Institute in Madrid, Spain, recently employed a gas-phase treatment method, exposing commercially available carbon nanotube fibers to a gas containing tetrachloroaluminate ions (AlCl₄⁻). This process intercalates the ions into the channels between the fiber tubes without disrupting their structure. This method significantly enhances the electrical conductivity of the carbon nanotube fibers.

The treated carbon nanotube fibers exhibit an electrical conductivity approximately 17 times higher than before treatment, reaching nearly half that of copper (which has a room-temperature conductivity of 24 MS/m), while weighing only one-sixth as much as copper and maintaining high mechanical strength. This combination of lightweight and high-strength properties gives the carbon nanotube fibers a superior conductivity-to-weight ratio compared to copper and aluminum.

The researchers point out that these carbon nanotube fibers have reached a practical performance level for use as lightweight electrical wiring, making them particularly suitable for weight-sensitive applications such as aircraft, drones, electric vehicles, and overhead power lines. Using these fibers, stronger and lighter power cables can be manufactured.

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