Preparation of carbon nanotube macroscopic body by finite field self-assembly assisted high temperature connection

A carbon nanotube macroscopic body (CNT-MB) is prepared by finite field self-assembly assisted high temperature connection. Using the solvation effect of the organic solvent under the high-intensitive and long-time ultrasound treatment, the carbon nanotube (CNT) powder was uniformly dispersed in n-hexane and then the dispersed CNT began to self-assemble in the less and less finite field with the n-hexane volatilization above the inorganic solvent. Then, by growing new CNT between the close or adjacent pristine CNTs at high temperature, the CNT-MB with three-dimension network structure was prepared without adhesive. The obtained CNT-MB has 2 times electrical and 8 times mechanical properties than that of the CNT-MB precursor (without new CNT growing), indicating excellent application prospects in many fields. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.