A recently published paper from the KERI Nano Hybrid Technology Research Center has discovered a novel method for producing carbon nanotube (CNT) functional wires, with the specific goal of improving wearable devices. 

Wearable devices are electronic devices that are designed to attach to or be worn on the body. They use embedded sensors to track movement and other metrics, such as heart rate, providing real-time feedback and insights into the wearer’s body. Common examples include smartwatches and fitness trackers, which have rapidly become part of everyday life for many users. 

Challenges in Producing Wires for Wearables 

Wearable devices must be lightweight to ensure that they do not have a detrimental impact on the wearer. In addition, wearable devices must retain their high performance levels over time.

Copper is the most common substance used for electrical wires; however, it is heavy. CNT wires have been suggested as an alternative to copper wires due to their comparable conductivity and lightweight nature. In addition, CNT wires are strong – providing 100 times the strength of steel – and will improve the longevity of the device. 

However, CNTs face their own challenges in their use to produce wires – namely their tendency to agglomerate and the subsequent difficulty in achieving uniform dispersion.

Producing CNT Wires Using a Novel Method

The team at KERI, led by Dr. Han Joong Tark, have developed a novel method for producing CNT wires using existing synthetic fibre processing methods. To achieve this, they added acid and other additives to CNT powder. This resulted in the addition of oxygen functional groups, increasing the compatibility of the CNTs with solvents. The mixture was kneaded and stored at 2°C before the addition of graphene oxide. Following this, a process similar to that used in the manufacture of synthetic fibres was followed. The CNT mixture was spun through a multihole spinneret and subsequently merged into a single functional wire strand using hydrogen bonding, similar to the process of a spider spinning web fibres.

Exciting New Applications

This new method of producing CNT wires holds the potential for replacing copper wires in wearable devices due to its lightweight and long-lasting qualities. In addition, when testing the product, the researchers found that their CNT wires were able to be used as sensors to detect harmful gases. Therefore, the researchers suggested that the CNT wire functionality could be expanded even further, with the potential for use in smart clothing, such as firefighter uniform.

As the wearables industry continues to expand, the use of CNT wires produced using existing synthetic fibre manufacturing processes may contribute to the development of lightweight, durable products with a wide range of applications.

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Carbon nanotube wires for wearables can be crafted from existing fibre manufacturing process