Strong Connection of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Fibers with a Copper Substrate Using an Intermediate Nickel Layer.

Gao, Zhaoqing; Xu, Lele; Jiao, Xinyu; Li, Xin; He, Chengjian; Wang, Hao-Zike; Sun, Chunyang; Hou, Peng-Xiang et al. · ACS Nano · 2023

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Lightweight carbon nanotube fibers (CNTFs) with high electrical conductivity and high tensile strength are considered to be an ideal wiring medium for a wide range of applications. However, connecting CNTFs with metals by soldering is extremely difficult due to the nonreactive nature and poor wettability of CNTs. Here we report a strong connection between single-wall CNTFs (SWCNTFs) and a Cu matrix by introducing an intermediate Ni layer, which enables the formation of mechanically strong and electrically conductive joints between SWCNTFs and a eutectic Sn-37Pb alloy. The electrical resistance change rate (Δ<i>R</i>/<i>R</i><sub>0</sub>) of Ni-SWCNTF/solder-Cu interconnects only decreases ∼29.8% after 450 thermal shock cycles between temperatures of -196 and 150 °C, which is 8.2 times lower than that without the Ni layer. First-principles calculations indicate that the introduction of the Ni layer significantly improves the heterogeneous interfacial bond strength of the Ni-SWCNTF/solder-Cu connections.