Vibration-assisted infiltration of nano-compounds to strengthen and functionalize carbon nanotube fibers

To improve the mechanical performance and to develop multifunctionality, strengthening agents or functional nanoparticles are introduced into carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers. Here, a new post-spin treatment is realized for a high level of infiltration based on the vibration-induced loosening of CNT bundles. The vibration-assisted infiltration of terephthalic acid and bismaleimide improved the tensile strength from 1.79 GPa to 2.11–2.26 GPa. After increasing the loading amount of Pt and Au nanoparticles with the vibration, the fiber became highly electrically conducting (conductivity improved from 584 S cm−1 to 1245–2393 S cm−1) and very sensitive for the enhanced Raman spectroscopy of rhodamine dyes.