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Tunneling Effects and Electrical Conductivity of CNT Polymer Composites

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2011

S. Xu ,
O. Rezvanian ,
K. Peters  and
M.A. Zikry
S. Xu
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
O. Rezvanian
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
K. Peters
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
M.A. Zikry
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
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Abstract

A three-dimensional (3D) carbon nanotube (CNT) network computational model was developed to investigate the electrical conductivity and current flow in polymer composites with randomly dispersed CNTs. A search algorithm was developed to determine conductive paths for 3D CNT arrangements and to account for electron tunneling effects. Tunneled currents were obtained as a function of tunneling distance and matrix material. Several possible CNT conductive paths were obtained and finite-element representative volume elements (RVEs) were then used to predict current densities in different CNT arrangements. The predictions indicate that random CNT arrangements can be optimized for current transport.

Keywords

compositeelectrical propertiesnanostructure
Type
Other
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1304: Symposium Z – Hierarchical Materials and Composites—Combining Length Scales from Nano to Macro , 2011 , mrsf10-1304-z09-06
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

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References

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