Researchers create carbon nanotube wires for wearables efficiently

A team led by Dr. Han Joong Tark at KERI's Nano Hybrid Technology Research Center has created new "functional wires" for wearable electronics. They used existing methods for making synthetic fibers to produce these wires. The new wires are made from single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT), which are strong and conduct electricity well. They are much lighter than traditional materials like copper. CNT is 100 times stronger than steel and has excellent flexibility. This makes it ideal for use in devices worn on the body, such as smartwatches and glasses. Creating functional CNT wires poses challenges. The CNTs tend to clump together, making them hard to use. The team added a small amount of strong acid and other substances to the CNT powder to help separate them. They then kneaded the mixture and kept it cool, a method similar to making bread. Further, the team mixed in graphene oxide, which helped the CNTs disperse more evenly. They then spun the CNT mixture to form multi-filament wires in a solution. This process helped create stronger, more effective wires. The research showed that these wires have excellent energy storage abilities and could also be used for gas sensing in smart clothing. These applications could benefit firefighters or military use. Dr. Tark believes this technology could eventually help replace copper wires in vehicles and drones, making them lighter and more efficient.