Tuning electrical and thermal connectivity in multiwalled carbon nanotube buckypaper

J Phys Condens Matter. 2010 Aug 25;22(33):334215. doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/22/33/334215. Epub 2010 Aug 4.

Abstract

We find that the electrical and thermal connectivity in multiwalled carbon nanotube buckypaper can be tuned using a spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. Elevated SPS temperatures promote the formation of inter-tube connections and consequently impact the electrical resistivity, thermoelectric power and thermal conductivity of the buckypaper. In particular, the electrical resistivity as a function of SPS temperature exhibits a percolation-type behavior while the low temperature lattice thermal conductivity shows a crossover behavior in the sample dimensionality. The results are discussed in terms of the quasi-one-dimensional metallic nature of multiwalled carbon nanotubes, the packing density and the electron-phonon coupling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Electric Conductivity
  • Materials Testing
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / ultrastructure*
  • Particle Size
  • Temperature
  • Thermal Conductivity

Substances

  • Nanotubes, Carbon