Carbon nanotube network-based nano-composites

Abstract

Techniques for manufacturing carbon nanotube network-based nano-composites are provided. In some embodiments, a nano-composite manufacturing method includes forming a carbon nanotube (CNT) network, immersing the CNT network into an electroplating solution, applying electrical energy, and relaying the electrical energy flow to produce a nano-composite having uniform conductive bridges on the CNT network.

1 . An electroplating apparatus for manufacturing a nano-composite comprising:
 a power supply configured to generate electrical energy;   a carbon nanotube network;   an electroplating solution comprising any one selected from the group consisting of metal ion, conductive polymer, and a combination thereof;   an anode coupled to the power supply and immersed in the electroplating solution;   two or more electrodes attached to the carbon nanotube network at predetermined intervals and immersed in the electroplating solution; and   a relay coupled to the power supply and the two or more electrodes and configured to switch over the electrical energy flow from a portion of the two or more electrodes to another portion of the two or more electrodes.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the anode is selected from the group consisting of Al, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rh, Pd, Ag, Sn, W, Pt, Au, Ti, Mn, Cd and Pb. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 one or more detectors positioned to measure the electrical value between the anode and the two or more electrodes.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a controller coupled to the power supply and/or the relay.   
     
     
         5 . An electroplating apparatus for manufacturing a nano-composite comprising:
 a power supply configured to generate electrical energy;   an electroplating solution comprising any one selected from the group consisting of metal ions, conductive polymers, and a combination thereof;   an anode coupled to the power supply and immersed in the electroplating solution;   a carbon nanotube network coupled to the power supply through two or more parts thereof at predetermined intervals and immersed in the electroplating solution; and   a relay coupled to the power supply and the two or more parts of the carbon nanotube network and configured to switch over the electrical energy flow from a portion of the two or more parts of the carbon nanotube network to another portion of the two or more parts of the carbon nanotube network.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the anode is selected from the group consisting of Al, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rh, Pd, Ag, Sn, W, Pt, Au, Ti, Mn, Cd and Pb. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising:
 one or more detectors positioned to measure the electrical value between the anode and the carbon nanotube network.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a controller coupled to the power supply and/or the relay.   
     
     
         9 . A method for manufacturing a nano-composite using electroplating comprising:
 forming a carbon nanotube (CNT) network having one or more intertube junctions between different carbon nanotubes;   immersing the carbon nanotube network attached to two or more electrodes which are arranged at predetermined intervals into an electroplating solution;   applying an electrical energy among an anode and a portion of the two or more electrodes for applying an electroplating substance of the electroplating solution to the carbon nanotube network; and   relaying the electrical energy flow from a portion of the two or more electrodes to another portion of the two or more electrodes under conditions effective to produce a nano-composite having uniform conductive bridges of the electroplating substance at the one or more intertube junctions.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the time period and frequency of relaying the electrical energy flow is adjusted to reduce the contact resistance of the CNT network. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the anode is selected from the group consisting of Al, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rh, Pd, Ag, Sn, W, Pt, Au, Ti, Mn, Cd and Pb. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the applying of electrical energy and the relaying of the electrical energy flow is performed with an electrical current density ranging from about 1 nA/cm 2  to about 1000 mA/cm 2 . 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the electroplating substance comprises any one selected from the group consisting of metal, conductive polymer, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the metal is at least one selected from the group consisting of Al, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rh, Pd, Ag, Sn, W, Pt, Au, Ti, Mn, Cd and Pb. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the conductive polymer comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, polyimide, polyester, polyacetylene, polypyrrole, polythiophene, poly-p-phenylenevynilene, polyepoxide, polydimethylsiloxane, polyacrylate, poly methyl methacrylate, cellulose acetate, polystyrene, polyolefin, polymethacrylate, polycarbonate polysulphone, polyethersulphone, and polyvinyl acetate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the size of the conductive bridges ranges from about 0.5 nm to about 10 nm when the electroplating substance is metal. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the forming of the carbon nanotube network is carried out by any one selected from the group consisting of dip-coating, spin coating, bar coating, spraying, self-assembly, Langmuir-Blodgett deposition, and vacuum filtration. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 measuring the electrical value between the anode and the two or more electrodes.   
     
     
         19 . A method for manufacturing a nano-composite using electroplating comprising:
 forming a carbon nanotube (CNT) network having one or more intertube junctions between different carbon nanotubes;   immersing the carbon nanotube network into an electroplating solution, wherein the carbon nanotube network is coupled to a power supply through two or more parts thereof at predetermined intervals;   applying an electrical energy among an anode and a portion of the two or more parts of the carbon nanotube network for applying an electroplating substance of the electroplating solution to the carbon nanotube network; and   relaying the electrical energy flow from a portion of the two or more parts of the carbon nanotube network to another portion of the two or more parts of the carbon nanotube network under conditions effective to produce a nano-composite having uniform conductive bridges of the electroplating substance at the one or more intertube junctions.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the time period and frequency of relaying the electrical energy flow is adjusted to reduce the contact resistance of the CNT network. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the anode is selected from the group consisting of Al, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rh, Pd, Ag, Sn, W, Pt, Au, Ti, Mn, Cd and Pb. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the applying of electrical energy and the relaying of the electrical energy flow is performed with an electrical current density ranging from about 1 nA/cm 2  to about 1000 mA/cm 2 . 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the electroplating substance comprises any one selected from the group consisting of metal, conductive polymer, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the metal is at least one selected from the group consisting of Al, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rh, Pd, Ag, Sn, W, Pt, Au, Ti, Mn, Cd and Pb. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the conductive polymer comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, polyimide, polyester, polyacetylene, polypyrrole, polythiophene, poly-p-phenylenevynilene, polyepoxide, polydimethylsiloxane, polyacrylate, poly methyl methacrylate, cellulose acetate, polystyrene, polyolefin, polymethacrylate, polycarbonate polysulphone, polyethersulphone, and polyvinyl acetate. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the size of the conductive bridges ranges from about 0.5 nm to about 10 nm when the electroplating substance is metal. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the forming of the carbon nanotube network is carried out by any one selected from the group consisting of dip-coating, spin coating, bar coating, spraying, self-assembly, Langmuir-Blodgett deposition, and vacuum filtration. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 measuring the electrical value between the anode and the carbon nanotube network.