A team at Rice University developed a new type of electric heating element using carbon nanotube fibers, which deliver more heating power per unit mass than conventional metal-alloy heaters. This innovation has the potential to electrify industrial heating, a critical step toward reducing carbon emissions.
Scientists at Meijo University developed a new method to synthesize small-diameter single-walled carbon nanowires with a high density of long linear carbon chains. The breakthrough enables researchers to probe the properties of these unstable carbon chains, which have outstanding theoretical mechanical strength and thermal conductivity.
SourceMeijo University·JournalChemical Physics Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 27, 2025
UT Dallas researchers have invented a mandrel-free method for fabricating springlike polymer muscles with high-spring-index yarns. These muscles can significantly contract and elongate due to their large spring index, enabling applications in comfort-adjusting jackets and mechanical energy harvesting.
SourceUniversity of Texas at Dallas·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 31, 2025
Researchers at Rice University have successfully recycled carbon nanotube fibers without losing their structure or properties. The discovery positions CNT fibers as a sustainable alternative to traditional materials like metals and polymers, offering a solution to waste management problems in industries such as aerospace and automotive.
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Researchers observed the breaking of carbon nanotube fibers due to molecular slippage, which reduces their strength. Electron irradiation enhances CNT bundles' strength by forming stronger bonds between molecules.
SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalCarbon·DateNov 4, 2024
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology developed a flexible and durable bioelectrode material composed of single-wall carbon nanotubes on a stretchable poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) nanosheet. The material showed impressive flexibility, high water vapor permeability and resilience for extended use.
SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalNPG Asia Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 3, 2024
Carbon nanotube fibers exhibit excellent mechanical properties, surpassing traditional ballistic fibers in terms of dynamic strength and energy absorption. The innovative multiscale structural optimization strategy achieved a breakthrough in both quasi-static and dynamic strength.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalScience·DateJun 28, 2024
Researchers at Okayama University have developed a novel method to produce carbon nanotube yarns with excess electrons that can harvest waste heat. The yarns achieved high thermoelectric power factors within temperatures ranging from 30 to 200 °C, making them suitable for practical applications such as fabric-based modules.
SourceOkayama University·JournalSmall Methods·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 25, 2024
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Scientists at Nara Institute of Science and Technology create flexible wearable thermoelectric generators that produce electricity from body heat using high-performing carbon nanotube yarns. The yarns, developed through a low-cost and environmentally friendly method, show three times higher power factor than previous CNT yarns.
SourceNara Institute of Science and Technology·JournalACS Applied Nano Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024
Researchers use carbon nanotubes to prevent cracking in multilayered composites, improving resistance by up to 60%. This innovation could lead to safer and more durable aircraft with advanced composite materials.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateApr 16, 2024
Rice chemists find a way to remove impurities from boron nitride nanotubes using phosphoric acid and fine-tuning the reaction. The new method produces high-purity tubes that are stronger than steel by weight, making them suitable for various industries, including aerospace and biomedical imaging.
SourceRice University·JournalChemistry of Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 16, 2024
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Researchers develop methods to introduce chirality into materials, enabling tunable properties in thin films. The discovery has potential applications in pharmaceuticals, biomedicine, communication and energy.
SourceRice University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 11, 2023
Researchers developed a nanoscale material technique called inverse thermal degradation (ITD) to control high-temperature flames and tune material properties. By regulating oxygen access, ITD allows for smoldering rather than bursting into flames, producing carbon tubes with desired characteristics.
SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalAngewandte Chemie·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 14, 2023
Scientists at Rice University have developed a new technique using the 'flash Joule' method to transform plastic waste into high-value carbon nanotubes and hybrid nanomaterials. This process is more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly than traditional methods, making it a promising solution for recycling plastic waste.
SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 16, 2023
Researchers at Rice University have successfully created the first heat-tolerant, stable fibers from boron nitride nanotubes using a wet-spinning process. The fibers assemble themselves into liquid crystals, making them easier to process and suitable for large-scale applications in aerospace, electronics, and energy-efficient materials.
SourceRice University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 23, 2022
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Researchers develop less-corrosive solutions using methanesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid and oleum acids to separate and process nanotubes. The new method enables scalable production of advanced materials with excellent electrical and mechanical properties.
SourceRice University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 27, 2022
Researchers at Rice University found that carbon nanotubes and their fibers experience fatigue under cyclic loads, leading to slippage and strain accumulation. The fibers' endurance limit is around 30%-50% of their tensile strength, allowing them to last practically forever.
SourceRice University·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 22, 2021
A Rice University lab developed a 'smart' shirt that gathers accurate EKGs and heart rates using conductive nanotube thread. The fibers, just as conductive as metal wires but washable and comfortable, provided better data than standard chest-strap monitors.
SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 30, 2021
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Researchers have developed a new material that can convert heat into energy, with potential applications in textiles and electronics. The woven nanotube fibers show promise as building blocks for fiber and textile electronics, and could also be used to cool sensitive electronics.
SourceRice University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 16, 2021
Researchers at Rice University have developed carbon nanotube fibers that are stronger than Kevlar and conductive like copper. The fibers have doubled in strength and conductivity every three years, a trend spanning nearly two decades.
Scientists at Skoltech developed a novel p-type flexible transparent conductor using single-walled carbon nanotubes, which opens new avenues for its applications. The newly developed conductor achieved a record power conversion efficiency of 8.8% in solar cells, outperforming traditional amorphous silicon solar cells.
SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalNano Energy·DateNov 13, 2019
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Researchers at Texas Heart Institute and Rice University have developed biocompatible nanotube fibers that can bridge damaged heart tissues and deliver electrical signals to restore heart function. The fibers were shown to be effective in restoring conduction in preclinical models, even without the presence of a pacemaker.
Researchers at Rice University have advanced the art of making nanotube-based materials by characterizing and purifying long nanotube wires and films. The study found that longer nanotubes yield stronger and more conductive fibers, with an average tensile strength of 2.4 GPa and electrical conductivity of 8.5 megasiemens per meter.
SourceRice University·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateOct 16, 2017
A lightweight power generator based on carbon nanotube fibers can convert the energy of flowing blood into electricity with high efficiency. The device, called a fiber-shaped fluidic nanogenerator (FFNG), was developed by Chinese scientists from Fudan University.
SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateSep 8, 2017
Researchers at Rice University have created a novel filter that can remove toxic heavy metals from contaminated water, using a combination of carbon nanotubes and quartz fibers. The filters are reusable and can be washed with vinegar, making them an effective solution for treating water in remote regions.
SourceRice University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 27, 2017
The new fibers have a unique structure that allows for reversible stretching without increasing electrical resistance. They enable the creation of artificial muscles, capacitors, and strain sensors with improved performance and durability.
SourceUniversity of Texas at Dallas·JournalScience·DateJul 23, 2015
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The carbon nanotube fibers have proven superior to metal electrodes for deep brain stimulation and reading signals from a neuronal network. They offer promise for treating patients with neurological disorders while monitoring the real-time response of neural circuits.
Researchers at Rice University have successfully created strong conductive carbon threads using single-walled carbon nanotubes. By infusing the nanotubes with potassium and employing cage-like crown ethers, they were able to align the tubes and create a gel that could be extruded into fibers.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a way to create liquid crystals from negatively charged carbon nanotubes, allowing for easier functionalization and potentially leading to stronger, more conductive fibers. This breakthrough could significantly improve the creation of macro materials out of microscopic nanotubes.
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Researchers have developed a new carbon nanotube fiber with exceptional properties, including thermal and electrical conductivity, and flexibility. The fiber has the potential to revolutionize industries such as aerospace, automotive, and medical applications.
Researchers found that long, thin multi-walled carbon nanotubes behave like asbestos fibers when inhaled, posing a risk of mesothelioma. The study suggests steps should be taken to prevent inhalation and regulate their use.
SourceWoodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars/Science and Technology Innovation Program·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateMay 20, 2008
Researchers at Rice University have successfully produced macroscopic single-walled carbon nanotube fibers with high strength and conductivity. The discovery has the potential to revolutionize industries such as aerospace and energy by creating ultra-strong, smart materials.
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Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have successfully spun carbon nanotubes into usable fibers using a technique developed by Rice's Richard E. Smalley. The resulting fibers exhibit good mechanical and electrical properties, but modest thermal conductivity.
SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalScience·DateSep 2, 2004
Researchers have developed composite fibers containing varying percentages of carbon nanotubes, which can double stiffness, reduce shrinkage by 50%, and improve solvent resistance. Breaking up nanotube bundles could make these materials more accessible for commercial products.
SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology Research News·DateMar 28, 2004
Researchers have measured the comparative bending strength of tiny carbon nanotubes using a technique based on mechanical resonance induced by an oscillating electrical voltage. The study provides information that will help materials scientists select the best variety of nanotube for new applications.
Researchers determine tensile strength of individual carbon nanotubes, finding they can withstand forces up to 63 GPa before breaking. This discovery suggests potential applications for ultra-lightweight, high-strength cables and composites.
A new study reveals that carbon nanotubes are more energetic to roll across surfaces compared to sliding, defying conventional wisdom on friction reduction. Researchers discovered this phenomenon using the nanoManipulator device and attributed it to electron surface interactions.
SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalNature·DateJan 20, 1999
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