Electrical conduction in aluminum nitride-single-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites

Analysis of the temperature dependence of electrical conductivities of aluminum nitride (AlN)-single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) ceramic nanocomposite containing 1, 3 and 6 vol% SWCNT has been reported in this communication. A conductivity as high as 200 Sm−1 in the composite containing 6 vol% SWCNT has been explained with the low hopping parameter and high metallic conduction in three dimensions due to the presence of large quantity of metallic SWCNTs in the composite. Microstructure analyses of the composites reveal the presence of nets containing SWCNT ropes oriented in different directions and forming highly connected 3D networks in the grain boundaries.