Production of carbon nanotube yarns via floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition: Effect of synthesis temperature on electrical conductivity

Effect of synthesis temperature on the structure, morphology and crystallinity of as-synthesized CNT yarns via direct spinning was studied using Raman spectroscopy, x-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Effects of synthesis temperature on purity, morphology and thermal stability were related to the conductivity of the CNT yarns. It was observed that increase in synthesis temperature increased the sp(2) content of the as-synthesized carbon nanotubes yarns as indicated by the decrease in I-D/I-G ratio and increase in oxidation temperature. Current-Voltage (I-V) relationship for the CNT yarns synthesized at 1000 degrees C indicates an increase in resistivity with increased applied voltage, indicating promising potential of the produced yarns as filaments for incandescent bulbs.