Conduction of carbon nanotubes

Conduction of carbon nanotubes

Of carbon nanotubes since their discovery in 1991 are expected to work wonders. One is the perfect power cable, because the molecule tube flow ten times better than copper leads and it is much easier. In practice, the processing of nanotubes into functional cables but so far proved to be difficult. Now researchers at Rice University in Houston, Texas, the feat accomplished, Technology Review reported in its online edition: They are already working on a process to produce the new type of cable in droves.

The problem has been that the bundles of nanotubes into a cable from the fantastic conductivity of individual molecules, not much was left. After years of tinkering, the materials scientist Pulickel Ajayan and Enrique Barrera now found a solution: a condition is to choose the correct form nanotubes. Because depending on the geometry of carbon atoms arranged in hexagons, and the number of tube walls, the mechanical and electrical properties differ significantly. The Rice researchers finally decided for a long, two-walled nanotubes, which are produced at the Tshinghua University in Beijing.

Pulickel Ajayan will be satisfied with what has been achieved as yet. So far they have tested the current flow only for short distances to the power supply. One must follow to test for transmission lines, on the other hand they wanted to improve the cable on, so they conduct electricity better than copper, so Ajayan. That could succeed with single-walled nanotubes. They are however significantly more expensive to manufacture than multi-walled nanotubes.