Investigation into alignment of carbon nanotubes within bulk materials printed from aqueous dispersions

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have excellent thermal and electrical conductivity, as well as exceptional tensile strength. Thus far, however, translating these properties to a bulk material has proved challenging, as the junctions between individual CNTs are a limiting factor in the material's performance. Maximizing conductivity therefore requires minimizing both the concentration of inter-tube junctions and the resistance of those junctions. The former can be mitigated to an extent simply by increasing nanotube length, but this comes with difficulties in growth and material fabrication and does nothing for the latter issue. Improving alignment, however, addresses both issues, allowing charge to travel further in one direction between junctions and maximizing inter-tube contact lengths to reduce resistance. Because carbon nanotube alignment is so beneficial, a great number of approaches exist. This work endeavors to introduce the major alignment methods and describe avenues of alignment measurement and quantification, allowing for a methodical approach to the issue.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical & Computer Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2025

Author dc:creator

• Hutson, Judith

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lyding, Joseph W.

• Carbon Nanotubes
• Alignment
• Orientation
• Characterization

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2025 Judith Hutson

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129330

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F129330