Sheet-like article and method for making the same

Abstract

A sheet-like article including fibers and carbon nanotubes and/or carbon nanohorns adhering to the surface of the fibers in a uniformly dispersed state without agglomeration to form a network structure on the fibers. The sheet-like article is preferably made by converting the fibers and a dispersion of the carbon nanotubes and/or carbon nanohorns by a wet papermaking process. To use cellulose fibers as main fibers provides a good sheet-like article.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A sheet-like article comprising fibers and carbon nanotubes and/or carbon nanohorns,
 the carbon nanotubes and/or carbon nanohorns adhering to the surface of the fibers in a uniformly dispersed state without agglomeration to form a network structure on the fibers.   
     
     
         15 . The sheet-like article according to  claim 14 , being obtained by a wet papermaking process using the fibers and a dispersion of the carbon nanotubes and/or carbon nanohorns. 
     
     
         16 . The sheet-like article according to  claim 14 , being obtained by impregnating a fiber aggregate free from carbon nanotubes and/or carbon nanohorns with a dispersion of the carbon nanotubes and/or carbon nanohorns. 
     
     
         17 . The sheet-like article according to  claim 16 , wherein the fiber aggregate is formed of fibers treated with a cationic organic polymer. 
     
     
         18 . The sheet-like article according to  claim 14 , wherein the fibers mainly comprise cellulose fibers. 
     
     
         19 . A method of making the sheet-like article according to  claim 14 , comprising the steps of mixing fibers and a dispersion of carbon nanotubes and/or carbon nanohorns to prepare a mixed dispersion and converting the mixed dispersion into a sheet form by a wet papermaking process. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the dispersion of carbon nanotubes and/or carbon nanohorns contains a surfactant. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising the step of adsorbing a fixing agent for carbon nanotubes and/or carbon nanohorns to the fibers before the step of mixing the fibers with the dispersion of carbon nanotubes and/or carbon nanohorns. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the fixing agent has a polarity opposite to that of the surfactant. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the surfactant is anionic, and the fixing agent is cationic. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the fixing agent is an organic polymer. 
     
     
         25 . A sheet-like article obtained by the method according to  claim 19 . 
     
     
         26 . The sheet-like article according to  claim 15 , wherein the fibers mainly comprise cellulose fibers. 
     
     
         27 . The sheet-like article according to  claim 16 , wherein the fibers mainly comprise cellulose fibers. 
     
     
         28 . The sheet-like article according to  claim 17 , wherein the fibers mainly comprise cellulose fibers. 
     
     
         29 . A sheet-like article obtained by the method according to  claim 20 . 
     
     
         30 . A sheet-like article obtained by the method according to  claim 21 . 
     
     
         31 . A sheet-like article obtained by the method according to  claim 22 . 
     
     
         32 . A sheet-like article obtained by the method according to  claim 23 . 
     
     
         33 . A sheet-like article obtained by the method according to  claim 24 .