Carbon nanotube (CNT)-based electrodes in flexible supercapacitors have received significant attention in recent years. Carbon nanotube fiber fabrics (CNT-FF) have emerged as promising materials due to their high surface area, excellent conductivity, and mechanical strength. Researchers have attempted to improve the energy density and rate performance of CNT-FF supercapacitor electrodes through various strategies, such as functionalization with conductive materials like MnO2 nanoparticles and/or incorporation of graphene into them. In addition, the utilization of CNTs in combination with thin metal film electrodes has also gained widespread attention. Research has focused on enhancing electrochemical performance through functionalizing CNTs with conductive materials such as graphene and metal nanoparticles, or by controlling their morphology. This review paper will discuss the recent developments in supercapacitor technology utilizing carbon nanotube-based electrodes, including CNT fiber fabrics and CNTs on thin metal film electrodes. Various strategies employed for improving energy storage performance and the strengths and weaknesses of these strategies will be discussed. Finally, the paper will conclude with a discussion on the challenges that need to be addressed in order to realize the full potential of carbon nanotube-based electrodes in supercapacitor technology.

No abstract

Optimizing the coating conditions for a doctor blading system is important when seeking to improve the performance of Ag nanowire electrodes. In this study, the effect of the blading height and speed on the optical and electrical properties of Ag nanowire electrodes was investigated. Ag nanowires were first spread on a PET substrate using a doctor blade with differing heights at a fixed blading speed. An increase in the blading height resulted in the degradation of the optical transmittance and stronger haze due to the higher probability of Ag nanowire agglomeration arising from the greater wet thickness. When the blading speed was varied, the optical transmittance and haze were unaffected up until 20 mm/s, followed by minor degradation of the optical properties at blading speeds over 25 mm/s. The higher speeds hindered the spread of the Ag nanowire solution, which also increased the probability of Ag nanowire agglomeration. However, this degradation was less serious compared to that observed with a change in the blading height. Therefore, optimizing the blading height was confirmed to be the priority for the production of high-performance transparent Ag nanowire electrodes. Our study thus provides practical guidance for the fabrication of Ag nanowire electrodes using doctor blading systems.

No abstract

In the battery field, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) attract much attention due to their potential as a supporting conducting material for anodes or cathodes. The performance of cathodes or anodes can be optimized by introducing densely packed CNTs, which can be achieved with high dispersibility. The efficiency of CNT usage can be maximized by enhancing their dispersibility. An effective technique to this end is to incorporate surfactants on the surface of CNTs. The surfactant produces a surface charge that can increase the zeta potential of CNTs, thereby preventing their agglomeration. Additionally, surfactants having long chains of tail groups can increase the steric hindrance, which also enhances the dispersibility. Notably, the dispersibility of CNTs depends on the type of surfactant. Therefore, the results of dispersibility studies of CNTs involving different surfactants must be comprehensively reviewed to enhance the understanding of the effects of different surfactants on dispersibility. Consequently, this paper discusses the effect of different types of surfactants on the dispersibility of CNTs and presents several perspectives for future research on dispersibility enhancement.