Enhanced mechanical strength and electrical conductivity of carbon-nanotube/TiC hybrid fibers

Qinghua Yi; Xiao Dai; Jie Zhao; Yinghui Sun; Yanhui Lou; Xiaodong Su; Qingwen Li; Baoquan Sun; Honghe Zheng; Mingrong Shen; Qinghua Wang; Guifu Zou

doi:10.1039/C3NR01857A

Enhanced mechanical strength and electrical conductivity of carbon-nanotube/TiC hybrid fibers†

Qinghua Yi,‡^a Xiao Dai,‡^a Jie Zhao,^a Yinghui Sun,^a Yanhui Lou,^a Xiaodong Su,*^a Qingwen Li,^b Baoquan Sun,^a Honghe Zheng,^a Mingrong Shen,^a Qinghua Wang^a and Guifu Zou*^a

Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

^a Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, P. R. China
E-mail: xdsu@suda.edu.cn, zouguifu@suda.edu.cn
Fax: +86-512-65228130
Tel: +86-512-65228130

^b Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China

Abstract

We report the synthesis of carbon nanotube/TiC hybrid fibers using a polymer-assisted chemical solution approach. Ti metal ions are bound to aqueous polyethyleneimine (PEI) to form precursor solution. Amphiphilic PEI with Ti easily permeates the CNT fibers. Upon annealing in a controlled atmosphere, a homogeneous TiC network is formed in the CNT fibers. The obtained CNT/TiC hybrid fibers show prominent enhancement in mechanical strength and electrical conductivity. The tensile strength and conductivity of CNT/TiC fibers can be improved to 0.67 GPa and 1650 S cm⁻¹ at room temperature, respectively. More importantly, a tensile modulus as high as 420 GPa has been achieved for the CNT/TiC fibers. Analysis shows that the cross-linking matrix of hard TiC plays a significant role in the improvement of mechanical strength. Furthermore, the electrons are transported in the CNT/TiC fiber by a three dimensional hopping mechanism.

Nanoscale

Enhanced mechanical strength and electrical conductivity of carbon-nanotube/TiC hybrid fibers†

Abstract

Supplementary files

Article information

Download Citation

Permissions

Enhanced mechanical strength and electrical conductivity of carbon-nanotube/TiC hybrid fibers

Social activity

Search articles by author

Spotlight

Advertisements