Electrical and thermal conductivity enrichment by carbon nanotubes: a mini-review

Due to their outstanding electrical and thermal properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are used to enhance the electrical and thermal conductivity of other materials, such as polymers and fibers. Researchers proved that CNT/material hybrid or composite has higher conductance compared with materials without CNT. In this article, we reviewed the latest progress related to CNT-based material composites and their fabrication process in terms of conductivity improvements. The location and position of the deposited CNTs within the composite matrix play an essential role in device performance due to their anisotropic properties. Composite conductivity is directly proportional to the weight fraction of CNTs (wt.%) added to the composite. However, a higher density of CNTs could be costly and have unpredicted behavior when deposited randomly. CNT-to-CNT contact, orientation angle, and CNTs distribution within the composite play a significant role in achieving the target conductivity.