Enhancement of Electrical Conductivity of Carbon Nanotube Fibers by Copper Sulfide Plating

Abstract

The present study aimed to enhance the electrical conductivity of carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers by introducing copper sulfide (CuS) into them. CuS forms a very stable compound with an electrical conductivity as high as 106 S/m, and it was introduced into CNT fibers by treating them with polyethyleneimine (PEI) to introduce amine groups on the CNTs. The CNT fibers were then treated with a solution of copper sulfate/sodium thiosulfate, which increased their electrical conductivity by >= 100 % (4x10(5) S/m) relative to that of untreated CNT fibers. This study also examined how the CuS plating changed the structure, morphology, and mechanical properties of CNT fibers. The results indicate that the modulus of elasticity of CuS-plated CNTs increased by 2.86 times (11.34 N/tex) and the elongation-at-break decreased by half.