Stretchable and Highly Conductive Carbon Nanotube-Graphene Hybrid Yarns for Wearable Systems

Abstract

Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) have emerged as potential candidates for replacement of conventional metals due to their significant mechanical, electrical, thermal properties and non-oxidizing abilities [1, 2]. The density of CNT composites is about five times lower than copper and around half that of aluminium. Moreover, their thermal conductivity is about ten times that of copper. With the above mentioned distinguishing features, CNTs have been of interest in medical, electronics and antenna applications [3]. CNTs are drawn into yarns by pulling and twisting them from CNT forests. Previously we have presented microwave characterization of CNT yarns [4]. Our results have shown that the CNT yarns exhibits frequency independent resistive behavior and is beneficial for wide-band applications such as ultra-wideband (UWB) and wireless body area networks [4]. Electrical conductivity of a CNT yarn depends on the properties, loading and aspect ratio of the CNTs. It also depends upon the twist angle and the characteristics of the conductive network. By doping or adding materials, such as gold, silver or NiCr, electrical conductivity of CNTs can by varied. In [5], highly conductive carbon nanotube-graphene hybrid yarns are reported. They are obtained by drawing vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) into long MWCNT sheets.