Carbon nanotube conductor with enhanced electrical conductivity

Abstract

A method includes the steps of receiving a conductor element formed from a plurality of carbon nanotubes; and exposing the conductor element to a controlled amount of a dopant so as to increase the conductance of the conductor element to a desired value, wherein the dopant is one of bromine, iodine, chloroauric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydroiodic acid, nitric acid, and potassium tetrabromoaurate. A method includes the steps of receiving a conductor element formed from a plurality of carbon nanotubes; and exposing the conductor element to a controlled amount of a dopant solution comprising one of chloroauric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and potassium tetrabromoaurate, so as to increase the conductance of the conductor element to a desired value.

1 . A method, comprising the steps of:
 receiving a conductor element formed from a plurality of multi-wall carbon nanotubes; and   exposing the conductor element exohedrally to a controlled amount of a dopant so as to increase the conductance of the conductor element to a desired value,   wherein the dopant is one of bromine, iodine, chloroauric acid, hydroiodic acid, nitric acid, and potassium tetrabromoaurate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dopant comprises chloroauric acid. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dopant comprises bromine. 
     
     
         4 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dopant comprises chloroauric acid, wherein the dopant further comprises bromine, and wherein the two dopants are applied sequentially. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the conductivity is enhanced by a factor greater than the enhancement produced by a dopant comprising chloroauric acid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the conductivity is enhanced by a factor greater than the enhancement produced by a dopant comprising bromine. 
     
     
         9 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the conductor element comprises CNT cable. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the CNT cable comprises one or more twisted stranded conductors. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the CNT cable comprises one or more shielded cables. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the conductor element comprises CNT sheet material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the conductor element comprises CNT tape. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the conductor element comprises CNT film. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the conductor element comprises CNT powder. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the conductor element comprises one of CNT non-woven materials and CNT woven materials. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the conductor element comprises multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWNT) yarn. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the conductivity is enhanced by a factor that is approximately linearly related to the amount of bromine dopant.