Thermal Conductivity of Carbon Nanotubes and Applications of Nanocyl Carbon Nanotubes

Topics Covered

Background

Thermal Conductivity Properties

Aligned Structures and Ribbons

Surface Area

Applications and Nanocyl Solutions

Background

Before carbon nanotubes, the best thermal conductor was diamond. But carbon nanotubes have a thermal conductivity that is twice that of diamond.

Thermal Conductivity Properties

Carbon nanotubes have extraordinary thermal conductivity properties. The record-setting anisotropic thermal conductivity of carbon nanotubes is enabling applications where heat needs to move from one place to another. Such an application is electronics, particularly advanced computing, where uncooled chips now routinely reach over 100°C.

Aligned Structures and Ribbons

Recent technology for creating aligned structures and ribbons of carbon nanotubes is a step toward realising incredibly efficient heat conduits. In addition, composites with carbon nanotubes have been shown to dramatically increase the bulk thermal conductivity at small loadings.

Surface Area

Carbon nanotubes have two technologies of rapidly increasing importance: they have a tremendously high surface area (~1000 m²/g), good electrical conductivity, and very importantly, their linear geometry makes their surface highly accessible to the electrolyte.

Applications and Nanocyl Solutions

Nanocyl carbon nanotubes have the intrinsic characteristics desired in material used as electrodes in batteries and capacitors. Research has also shown that carbon nanotubes have the highest reversible capacity of any carbon material for use in lithium-ion batteries. In addition, carbon nanotubes are outstanding materials for super capacitor electrodes.

Carbon nanotubes also have applications in a variety of fuel cell components. They have a number of properties including high surface area and thermal conductivity that make them useful as electrode catalyst supports in fuel cells. They may also be used in gas diffusion layers as well as current collectors because of their high electrical conductivity. Their high strength and toughness to weight characteristics may also prove valuable as part of composite components in fuel cells that are deployed in transport applications where durability is extremely important.

Source: Nanocyl

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