Intercalation of Carbon Nanotube Fibers to Improve their Conductivity Project

We propose to increase the electrical conductivity of fibers made up of carbon nanotubes by intercalation with bromine. We further expect that the resulting fibers will have a higher specific electrical and thermal conductivity than any commercially available material. These properties, combined with excellent tensile strength and elastic modulus, will make this an ideal material from which to fabricate the next generation of spacecraft. This proposed research will explore how NASA intercalation technology can be used to lower the resistivity of the new Rice-Teijin fiber make them viable for NASA spacecraft applications. In addition, this research will shed light on the interaction between halogens and graphene carbons. This, in turn, could enable the discovery and exploitation of new nanoscale strategies and compounds that might result in further property improvements for CNT-based materials.

If successful, this could lead to materials that have the capability to enable new paradigms in spacecraft construction and function.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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