Carbon nanotube composite hollow structure and method for making the same

Abstract

A macro-scale carbon nanotube composite hollow structure includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes and a polymer. The carbon nanotubes are combined with each other via van der Waals attractive force. The polymer is at least partly attached to the carbon nanotubes. A method for making the carbon nanotube composite hollow structure includes the steps of providing a linear structure and a carbon nanotube structure including at least one carbon nanotube film or at least one carbon nanotube wire, wrapping the carbon nanotube structure around the linear structure to form a first carbon nanotube composite structure, applying a polymer liquid to the first carbon nanotube composite structure such that a second carbon nanotube composite structure is formed, and removing the linear structure from the second carbon nanotube composite structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A carbon nanotube composite hollow structure comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes combined with each other by van der Waals attractive force therebetween and a polymer at least partly attached to the carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         2 . The carbon nanotube composite hollow structure of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotubes and the polymer cooperatively form a carbon nanotube composite layer defining a through hole. 
     
     
         3 . The carbon nanotube composite hollow structure of  claim 2 , wherein the through hole has a linear axis, and the carbon nanotubes are arranged around the linear axis. 
     
     
         4 . The carbon nanotube composite hollow structure of  claim 3 , wherein the carbon nanotubes are entangled with each other or oriented along more directions. 
     
     
         5 . The carbon nanotube composite hollow structure of  claim 3 , wherein the carbon nanotubes substantially spirally extend along the linear axis. 
     
     
         6 . The carbon nanotube composite hollow structure of  claim 5 , wherein adjacent carbon nanotubes extending along a same direction are joined end-to-end via van der Waals attractive force therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . The carbon nanotube composite hollow structure of  claim 5 , wherein angles defined by extending directions of the carbon nanotubes and the linear axis is larger than 0 degrees and less than or equal to 90 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The carbon nanotube composite hollow structure of  claim 2 , wherein the carbon nanotube composite layer comprises a carbon nanotube layer comprising the carbon nanotubes, and a layer of the polymer is located on an outer surface of the carbon nanotube layer. 
     
     
         9 . The carbon nanotube composite hollow structure of  claim 2 , wherein the polymer is dispersed between the carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         10 . The carbon nanotube composite hollow structure of  claim 1 , wherein a cross sectional view of an outline of the carbon nanotube composite hollow structure is rectangular, trapezoid shaped, circle shaped, or ellipse shaped. 
     
     
         11 . A carbon nanotube composite hollow structure, comprising a wall and a through hole defined by the wall, the wall comprising a carbon nanotube structure and a polymer at least partly attached to the carbon nanotube structure, wherein the carbon nanotube structure comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         12 . A method for making a carbon nanotube composite hollow structure, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a linear structure and a carbon nanotube structure comprising at least one carbon nanotube film or at least one carbon nanotube wire;   (b) wrapping the carbon nanotube structure around the linear structure to form a first carbon nanotube composite structure;   (c) applying a polymer liquid to the first carbon nanotube composite structure such that a second carbon nanotube composite structure is formed; and   (d) removing the linear structure from the second carbon nanotube composite structure.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a material of the linear structure is metal, alloy, or plastics. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein step (b) comprises steps of: (b1) fixing one end of the carbon nanotube structure on the linear structure; and (b2) winding the carbon nanotube structure around the linear structure by relatively moving the carbon nanotube structure to the linear structure. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein providing the linear structure comprises substeps: providing a supply unit comprising a guiding shaft; providing the linear structure coiled around a bobbin; and hanging the bobbin wound around the linear structure on the guiding shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein if the carbon nanotube structure is a drawn carbon nanotube film or an untwisted carbon nanotube wire, providing the carbon nanotube structure comprises substeps: providing a wrapping unit comprising a hollow rotating shaft being rotatable and a face plate comprising a support stage, the face plate being mounted on the hollow rotating shaft; providing a carbon nanotube array with a growing substrate; fixing the growing substrate on the support stage; and drawing the carbon nanotube film or untwisted carbon nanotube wire from the carbon nanotube array. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step (b) comprises substeps: providing a collecting unit comprising a rotatable collecting shaft; fixing one end of the linear structure on the collecting shaft; adhering the drawn carbon nanotube film or the untwisted carbon nanotube wire to the linear structure; and rotating the face plate and the collecting shaft such that the linear structure moves along a fixed direction, thereby drawing simultaneously the drawn carbon nanotube film or the untwisted carbon nanotube wire from the carbon nanotube array and winding around the linear structure to form the carbon nanotube composite wire structure. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the polymer liquid comprises epoxy resin, acrylic resin, polyimides, polyvinyl alcohol, polyester, silastic, or thermal conductive adhesive. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein in the step (c), the step of applying the polymer liquid to the first carbon nanotube composite structure is carried out by dipping the first carbon nanotube composite wire structure into the polymer liquid, injecting the polymer liquid into the first carbon nanotube composite wire structure, or coating the polymer liquid on a surface of the first carbon nanotube composite wire structure. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of removing the linear structure is executed by a chemical method or a physical method.