Boost Up the Mechanical and Electrical Property of CNT Fibers by Governing Lyotropic Liquid Crystalline Mesophases with Aramid Polymers for Robust Lightweight Wiring Applications

Abstract

Monofilament type of polyaromatic amide (PA) and carbon nanotube (CNT) composite fibers is presented. A concept of a lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) constructed via a spontaneous self-assembly is introduced to mitigate the extremely low compatibility between PA and CNT. These approaches provide an effective co-processing route of PA and CNT simultaneously to fabricate the uniform, continuous, and reliable composite fibers through a wet-spinning. Interestingly, the addition of a small amount PA into the dope solution of CNT governs the LLC mesophase not only in a spinneret stage but also in a coagulant region. Thus, the developed PA/CNT composite fibers have the high uniaxial orientational order and the close interfacial packing compared to the pure CNT fibers. The PA/CNT composite fibers achieve the outstanding tensile strength, electrical conductivity, and electrochemical response, while maintaining a lightweight. They also exhibit the chemical, mechanical, and thermal robustness. All of these advantages can make flexible, sewable, and washable PA/CNT composite fibers ideal nanocomposite materials for use in next-generation information and energy transporting system by replacing conventional metal electrical conductors. Graphical Abstract The lyotropic liquid crystal self-assembly governed by doping the aramid polymers shows the ability to construct mechanically strong and continuous carbon nanotube-based composite fibers that can be used in the lightweight and robust electrical wiring for extreme environmental applications.

A review of high-performance carbon nanotube-based carbon fibers

“…Ryu et al introduced a composite fiber of polyaromatic amide (PA) and CNT. PA/CNT composite fibers were prepared uniformly, continuously and reliably under optimal wet spinning conditions [188]. The composite fibers could be prepared by spontaneous self-assembly of PA and CNT in liquid crystal phase (figure 15(a)).…”

Mass production of carbon nanotube fibers and hybrid yarns for high-performance helical auxetic yarn strain sensors

“…By twisting CNT fibers solely or with other fibers, mechanical strength of CNT yarn is comparable with common yarns such as cotton yarn. Currently, most of the flexible sensing fabrics developed based on CNTs are either coated with CNTs on the surface of the fabric or CNTs mixed with spinning solution [28][29][30][31].…”