Molecules stop carbon nanotubes clumping, unlocking record heat-to-electricity performance
Researchers at QUT have developed a molecular strategy to prevent carbon nanotubes from clumping, significantly improving their ability to convert heat into electricity. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient wearable electronics and energy-harvesting materials.
Why it matters
Improving the performance of carbon nanotubes addresses a long-standing material science challenge, enabling more sustainable and powerful energy technologies.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source a) Schematic illustration of defined radical-mediated dispersion (RMD) strategy for SWCNTs dispersion enabled by the small molecule (OTN). Credit: Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2026). DOI: 10.1002/anie.4937600 QUT researchers have overcome a challenge that has limited next-generation energy-harvesting materials for more than two decades, opening the door to more powerful wearable electronics and new ways of turning wasted heat into electricity. The breakthrough centers on carbon nanotubes, which are flexible, conductive microscopic rods that have long shown promise for wearable technologies but have been difficult to control.
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