Abstract The ability to translate the high electrical conductivity of individual carbon nanotubes to bulk carbon nanotube materials has proven challenging. In this work, we present the use of reduction expansion synthesis to attach copper nanoparticles to the surface of tubes within carbon nanotube sheets. Those metallic particulates serve as a link between the tube strands in the carbon nanotube network and promote an increase in electrical conductivity. The reduction expansion synthesis process included the introduction of copper salts into the carbon nanotube structure and thermal treatment of the sheets in the presence of urea, under inert atmospheres. As a result, through the reduction process promoted by the urea decomposition byproducts, copper nanoparticles directly nucleate on the nanotube surface. The enhanced conductive nature of the Cu-carbon nanotube sheets observed establishes reduction expansion synthesis as an inexpensive, rapid and scalable alternative to increase the electrical conductivity of bulk carbon nanotube materials.

中文翻译：

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使用还原膨胀合成通过添加铜提高碳纳米管片的导电性

摘要 将单个碳纳米管的高导电性转化为块状碳纳米管材料的能力已被证明具有挑战性。在这项工作中，我们介绍了使用还原膨胀合成将铜纳米颗粒附着到碳纳米管板内的管子表面。这些金属颗粒充当碳纳米管网络中管束之间的链接，并促进电导率的增加。还原膨胀合成过程包括将铜盐引入碳纳米管结构中，并在惰性气氛下在尿素存在下对片材进行热处理。结果，通过尿素分解副产物促进的还原过程，铜纳米颗粒直接在纳米管表面成核。