A simple method to make carbon nanotubes fibers

We study the phase behavior of single walled carbon nanotubes in aqueous solutions of amphiphilic compounds. Homogeneous dispersions can be obtained by using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). In contrast, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is not efficient at stabilizing the tubes. This behavior is the basis of a simple method that we developed to assemble single walled carbon nanotubes into indefinitely long ribbons and fibers. The processing consists of dispersing the nanotubes in SDS solutions, re-condensing the nanotubes in the flow of a PVA solution to form a nanotube mesh, and then collating this mesh to a nanotube fiber.