Ultra-light, high performance electrical wiring, made from carbon instead of copper, has been developed in a usable form for the first time.
Super-strong wires made from carbon nanotubes, which could significantly improve the efficiency with which electricity is supplied across the UK have been developed in a usable form for the first time.
The wires are one tenth the weight of copper, and, if used in conventional systems, would also make vehicles more fuel efficient. The wires, developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge can also be joined to conventional metal wires, which until now has not been possible, raising the prospect of hybrid energy networks.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are extremely thin, hollow cylinders made of carbon atoms. They are among the stiffest and strongest fibres known, but the difficulty in precisely controlling their properties has meant that their practical applications have been limited until now.
Like graphene, CNTs are strong, lightweight and flexible. The angle, or chirality, at which the sheets of graphene are rolled determines the properties of the nanotubes: whether they are metallic, semi-metallic, or semiconductors.
Now, researchers at the University of Cambridge have achieved an unprecedented level of control over the properties of CNTs on a large scale, resulting in nanotubes which can be used in electrical systems.
Copper wiring is used in electrical systems because of its proven history and excellent electrical conductivity. However, in modern systems, wiring deficiencies are becoming more apparent as functional demands increase. For example, a large satellite, weighing 15 tons or more, derives one-third of its weight from copper wiring. Similarly in commercial aircraft, a Boeing 747 uses as much as 135 miles of copper wire, weighing more than two tonnes. Copper wires also oxidise and corrode, are susceptible to vibration fatigue and create premature electronics failures due to overheating conditions.
According to ExxonMobil’s 2010 report The Outlook for Energy, there will be an 80 per cent increase in electricity demand by 2040. With increased demand comes increased risk of blackouts. To meet demand, power suppliers such as the National Grid can either construct five times more transmission towers, or find a material which can carry electricity more efficiently than copper.
“In order to achieve these electrical properties from carbon, an extremely high degree of control over the nanotubes is needed,” says Dr Krzysztof Koziol of the Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy.
The catalytic continuous synthesis process of CNTs was originally developed by Professor Alan Windle from the same department. It uses chemical vapour deposition (CVD) to spin out the nanotubes in long threads, one-tenth of the width of a human hair, from what resembles a high-tech candy floss machine.
The spinning process has been further developed by Professor Windle and Dr Koziol for electrical applications, by achieving very selective synthesis, and producing highly pure material consisting exclusively of single-, double- or multi-wall nanotubes. Recently the process was pushed to the next level, where highly controlled metallic single wall CNTs were produced with a very high level of purity. While most CNTs are grown in ‘forests’ on a substrate with the use of a catalyst, the Cambridge team grows them by injecting the precursor materials (usually methane) and the catalyst in the gas phase into the reactor.
By controlling the diameter of the CNTs, the Cambridge team can indirectly control the chirality. The nano-size catalyst particles, in this case iron, act as a template for growing the nanotubes. The addition of sulphur or selective carbon species results in a cloud of nanotube fibres with enough mechanical integrity to be pulled out of the reactor in continuous strands at a rate of roughly 20 metres per minute.
Once the CNT threads are pulled out of the reactor, they are twisted together to form ultra-light, super-strong wires one millimetre thick, which can be insulated and used as electrical wiring.
“It is reasonably simple for us to make a metre-long wire made of carbon and use it in an electrical system,” says Dr Koziol. “No longer are we talking about millimetre-long, minute samples.”
A metre of wire is one thing, but incorporating it into a house or an aeroplane is quite another. A highly-efficient carbon wire is of no practical use if it cannot be connected to conventional systems. While metal wires can be connected to each other through soldering, carbon cannot be connected to metal in this way using regular tin-based solder.
Dr Koziol’s team has developed an alloy which can solder carbon wires, either to each other or to metal wires, making it possible to incorporate carbon wires into metal-based systems. The solder could also be used for graphene, which is currently joined by clamping sheets together.
Wires made from carbon are 10 times lighter and up to 30 times stronger than copper. The carbon wires are corrosion resistant and can carry a much higher current. Additionally, losses in transmission efficiency with increasing temperature are significantly smaller than in traditional copper wires.
The Latest Bing News on:
Carbon nanotube wires
- Do single-walled carbon nanotubes occur naturally?on May 9, 2024 at 11:12 am
In any case the results are difficult to apply given the lack of any legal definition for a carbon nanotube 1. Hence, randomly testing natural samples for the presence of SWNTs may never yield ...
- Nanotubes, nanoparticles and antibodies detect tiny amounts of fentanylon May 2, 2024 at 1:22 pm
A research team at the University of Pittsburgh led by Alexander Star, a chemistry professor in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, has developed a fentanyl sensor that is six orders ...
- Nanotubes, nanoparticles, and antibodies detect tiny amounts of fentanylon May 2, 2024 at 12:43 pm
At the core of each of these sensors is a chip with carbon nanotubes attached. Each tube is like a tiny wire that’s 100,000 times smaller than a human hair and great at conducting electricity.
- Wigner crystal appears in bilayer grapheneon May 2, 2024 at 1:30 am
Researchers at Princeton University in the US say they have made the first direct observation of a Wigner crystal – a structure consisting solely of electrons arranged in a lattice-like configuration.
- Scientists stencil-paint carbon nanotube components for flexible transparent electronicson April 22, 2024 at 4:59 pm
Down at the atomic level, a single-walled nanotube can be visualized as a 2D sheet of carbon atoms (graphene) rolled into a cylinder. Such cylinders can stick together, forming thicker fibers.
- SiAT Partners with Zeon to Launch Innovative SWCNT Conductive Paste, Enhancing Battery Fast Charging and Energy Densityon April 17, 2024 at 8:00 pm
TAIPEI, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SiAT, a leading Taiwan manufacturer ... This collaboration marks the introduction of single-walled carbon nanotube conductive paste. The product can replace ...
- 2D ‘Antenna’ Helps Generate Light in Carbon Nanotubeson March 25, 2024 at 10:55 am
Carbon nanotubes can glow brilliantly when light is absorbed by a flat sheet of atoms acting as an antenna to direct that energy into the tubes. This breakthrough might help create future tiny ...
- Carbon Nanotube and Graphene Device Physicson June 17, 2023 at 4:50 pm
Explaining the properties and performance of practical nanotube devices and related applications, this is the first introductory textbook on the subject. All the fundamental concepts are introduced, ...
- The Coming Copper Shortage: Aluminium Or Carbon Nanotubes To The Rescue?on September 30, 2021 at 12:06 am
Yet what if they could be merged with a metal like aluminium, or even spun into wires? An article by Lekawa-Raus et al. published in 2014 titled Electrical Properties of Carbon Nanotube Based ...
- Carbon Nanotube Transistors Are On The Passing Laneon September 4, 2016 at 7:24 am
In particular, the team managed to assemble arrays of carbon nanotube transistors that outperform their silicon-based predecessors. One obstacle the researchers had to overcome were metallic ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Carbon nanotube wires
[google_news title=”” keyword=”carbon nanotube wires” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Carbon nanotube electrical wires
- Scientists stencil-paint carbon nanotube components for flexible transparent electronicson April 22, 2024 at 4:59 pm
Researchers from Skoltech, MIPT, and elsewhere have found a fast and inexpensive way to create geometric patterns in carbon nanotube films ... at the cost of some electrical conductivity.
- Lightweight, Flexible Battery Paves the Way for Advanced Wearableson April 21, 2024 at 5:00 pm
The figure above shows a comparison of the mechanical and electrical conductivity property enhancement of functionalized carbon nanotube fiber compared to raw fiber, showing a 33-fold increase in ...
- Everyday ways to shrink your carbon footprinton April 17, 2024 at 5:15 am
Eat less beef. Ride the bus. Turn down the thermostat. For Earth Day, we bring you ideas on how to do your part and reduce your carbon footprint. There are more options for boosting solar power at ...
- Safety first: These 5 home devices require regular maintenance checks, experts sayon April 16, 2024 at 4:01 am
Whether you are a homeowner, renter or just temporarily staying in a space, neglecting to routinely check certain devices, such as smoke and carbon ... of electrical outlets and wiring can help ...
- How Much Does It Cost To Rewire A House In 2024?on April 13, 2024 at 5:13 pm
Electrical wiring costs between $0.15 and $3.50 per linear foot, not including labor. While electrical wiring is priced by linear foot, you can still use the total square footage of your home to ...
- Mitsubishi Electric Subsidiaries Acquire French A/C Maker AIRCALOon April 2, 2024 at 4:59 pm
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiaries Mitsubishi Electric Hydronics & IT Cooling Systems S.p.A. and Mitsubishi ...
- New carbon nanotube transistor enhances sensitivity and resolution of molecule glasseson March 29, 2024 at 9:35 am
Researchers have developed a carbon nanotube (CNT) transistor for molecule ... which possess subtle electrical charges. Interactions with their bonding counterparts will also be observable.
- Researchers demonstrate breakthrough recyclability of carbon nanotube sheetson March 18, 2024 at 7:39 am
Researchers at IMDEA Materials Institute have demonstrated for the first time the recyclability of high-performance carbon nanotube (CNT ... essential mechanical and electrical properties.
- Strictly nanotubes in Beijingon March 5, 2024 at 2:38 am
A collaboration between China's leading university and one of the world's biggest industrial companies is bringing a range of nanotube ... electrical connections to replace copper wires, yarns ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Carbon nanotube electrical wires
[google_news title=”” keyword=”carbon nanotube electrical wires” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]