High-Quality Conductive Network Films Constructed from Carbon Nanotube/Carbon Nanofiber Composites via Electrospinning for Electrothermal Applications

In this study, carbon nanotube (CNT)/carbon nanofiber (CNF) composite electrothermal films were prepared by electrospinning, and the effects of the CNT content and carbonization temperature on the electrothermal properties of the CNT/CNF composite films were investigated. The experimental results demonstrated that the conductivity of the CNT/CNF composite electrothermal film (0.006-6.89 S/cm) was directly affected by the CNT content and carbonization temperature. The electrothermal properties of the CNT/CNF positively correlated with the CNT content, carbonization temperature, and applied voltage. The surface temperature of CNT/CNF can be controlled within 30-260 °C, and continuously heated and cooled 100 times without any loss. The convective heat transfer with air is controllable between 0.008 and 31.75. The radiation heat transfer is controllable between 0.29 and 1.92. The prepared CNT/CNF exhibited a heat transfer efficiency of up to 94.5%, and melted a 1 cm thick ice layer within 3 min by thermal convection and radiation alone.