24-Apr-2017: Material tougher, more conductive than copper developed

Researchers have developed thin carbon nanotube (CNT) textiles that exhibit high electrical conductivity and a level of toughness about 50 times higher than copper films, currently being used in electronics.

The structural robustness of thin metal films has significant importance for the reliable operation of smart skin and flexible electronics, including biological and structural health monitoring sensors. Aligned carbon nanotube sheets are suitable for a wide range of application spanning from the micro to the macro-scales.

Tough nano-architecture conductive textile made by capillary plicing of Carbon nanotubes. Beginning with catalyst deposited on a silicon oxide substrate, vertically aligned carbon nanotubes were synthesized via chemical vapour deposition in the form of parallel lines of 5 micrometer wide, 10 micrometre in length, and 20-60 micrometre in heights.

The new CNT textile, with simple flexible encapsulation in an elastomer matrix, can be used in smart textiles, smart skins and a variety of flexible electronics. Owing to their extremely high toughness, they represent an attractive material, which can replace thin metal films to enhance device reliability.