A team from CAS created carbon nanotube network with high current carrying capacity and high conductivity.
High current carrying capacity and high conductivity are two important indicators for materials used in microscale electronics and inverters. However, it is challenging to obtain high conductivity and high current carrying capacity at the same time since high conductivity requires a weakly bonded system to provide free electrons, while high current carrying capacity requires a strongly bonded system. In this paper, CuI@SWCNT networks by filling the single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with CuI is ingeniously prepared. CuI@SWCNT shows good stability due to the confinement protection of SWCNTs. Through the host-guest hybridization, CuI@SWCNT networks exhibit a current carrying capacity of 2.04 × 107 A cm−2 and a conductivity of 31.67 kS m−1. Their current carrying capacity and conductivity are significantly improved compared with SWCNT. The Kelvin probe force microscopy measurements show a drop of surface potential energy after SWCNT filled with CuI, indicating that the CuI guest molecules regulate the position of the Fermi level of SWCNTs, increasing carrier concentration, achieving high conductivity and high current carrying capacity. This study offers ideas and solutions for the regulation of high-performance carbon tube networks, which hold great promise for future applications in carbon-based electronic devices.
导体材料是信息交互、电能传输和力、热、光、电、磁等能量转换的基础性材料，在航空航天、新能源汽车、电力线路等领域具有重要应用价值。随着大功率器件的发展，对轻量化、大载流、高导电性材料的需求越来越迫切。单根单壁碳纳米管（SWCNT）拥有极高的载流能力和电导率，载流能力比传统金属铜高出2~3个数量级，电导率更是银的1000倍以上。然而，当SWCNT组装成宏观薄膜的时候，由于碳管间电子/声子散射的影响，载流能力和电导率会显著降低，从而制约SWCNT薄膜在大功率器件领域的应用。
针对上述问题，中国科学院苏州纳米技术与纳米仿生研究所研究员康黎星等提出并研制了新型大载流、高导电碳纳米管复合薄膜材料。研究团队采用化学气相输运法将CuI均匀高效地填充到SWCNT管腔中，制备出CuI@SWCNT一维同轴异质结。SWCNT对CuI具有保护作用，保持了CuI的电化学活性，使其能够在恶劣的酸性环境和长期电化学循环下保持稳定性。研究通过电学测量发现，CuI@SWCNT薄膜相较于SWCNT薄膜具有更优的电导率和更强的载流能力，其载流能力提升4倍，达到2.04×107 A/cm2，电导率提升8倍，达31.67 kS/m。
SWCNT填充CuI后，SWCNT中电子流向CuI，导致SWCNT的费米能级降低；同时，CuI@SWCNT一维范德华异质结中SWCNT的结构未被破坏，载流子依然保持高效的传递速率，进而使得CuI@SWCNT薄膜具有更高的导电性和载流能力。CuI@SWCNT复合薄膜在未来高功率电子器件、大电流传输等应用中具有潜力。
相关研究成果以CuI Encapsulated within Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Networks with High Current Carrying Capacity and Excellent Conductivity为题，发表在《先进功能材料》（Advanced Functional Materials）上。研究工作得到国家重点研发计划和国家自然科学基金等的支持。
Abstract
High current carrying capacity and high conductivity are two important indicators for materials used in microscale electronics and inverters. However, it is challenging to obtain high conductivity and high current carrying capacity at the same time since high conductivity requires a weakly bonded system to provide free electrons, while high current carrying capacity requires a strongly bonded system. In this paper, CuI@SWCNT networks by filling the single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with CuI is ingeniously prepared. CuI@SWCNT shows good stability due to the confinement protection of SWCNTs. Through the host-guest hybridization, CuI@SWCNT networks exhibit a current carrying capacity of 2.04 × 107 A cm−2 and a conductivity of 31.67 kS m−1. Their current carrying capacity and conductivity are significantly improved compared with SWCNT. The Kelvin probe force microscopy measurements show a drop of surface potential energy after SWCNT filled with CuI, indicating that the CuI guest molecules regulate the position of the Fermi level of SWCNTs, increasing carrier concentration, achieving high conductivity and high current carrying capacity. This study offers ideas and solutions for the regulation of high-performance carbon tube networks, which hold great promise for future applications in carbon-based electronic devices.
导体材料是信息交互、电能传输和力、热、光、电、磁等能量转换的基础性材料，在航空航天、新能源汽车、电力线路等领域具有重要应用价值。随着大功率器件的发展，对轻量化、大载流、高导电性材料的需求越来越迫切。单根单壁碳纳米管（SWCNT）拥有极高的载流能力和电导率，载流能力比传统金属铜高出2~3个数量级，电导率更是银的1000倍以上。然而，当SWCNT组装成宏观薄膜的时候，由于碳管间电子/声子散射的影响，载流能力和电导率会显著降低，从而制约SWCNT薄膜在大功率器件领域的应用。
针对上述问题，中国科学院苏州纳米技术与纳米仿生研究所研究员康黎星等提出并研制了新型大载流、高导电碳纳米管复合薄膜材料。研究团队采用化学气相输运法将CuI均匀高效地填充到SWCNT管腔中，制备出CuI@SWCNT一维同轴异质结。SWCNT对CuI具有保护作用，保持了CuI的电化学活性，使其能够在恶劣的酸性环境和长期电化学循环下保持稳定性。研究通过电学测量发现，CuI@SWCNT薄膜相较于SWCNT薄膜具有更优的电导率和更强的载流能力，其载流能力提升4倍，达到2.04×107 A/cm2，电导率提升8倍，达31.67 kS/m。
SWCNT填充CuI后，SWCNT中电子流向CuI，导致SWCNT的费米能级降低；同时，CuI@SWCNT一维范德华异质结中SWCNT的结构未被破坏，载流子依然保持高效的传递速率，进而使得CuI@SWCNT薄膜具有更高的导电性和载流能力。CuI@SWCNT复合薄膜在未来高功率电子器件、大电流传输等应用中具有潜力。
相关研究成果以CuI Encapsulated within Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Networks with High Current Carrying Capacity and Excellent Conductivity为题，发表在《先进功能材料》（Advanced Functional Materials）上。研究工作得到国家重点研发计划和国家自然科学基金等的支持。
