Quantum Conductance of Copper–Carbon Nanotube Composites

Abstract

Carbon nanotube (CNT)-based conductors are the focus of considerable ongoing experimental research, which has demonstrated their potential to offer increased current carrying capacity or higher specific conductance, as compared to conventional copper cabling. Complementary analytical research has been hindered by the high computational cost of large-scale quantum models. The introduction of certain simplifying assumptions, supported by critical comparisons to exact solutions and the published literature, allows for quantum modeling work to assist experiment in composite conductor development. Ballistic conductance calculations may be used to identify structure–property relationships and suggest the most productive avenues for future nanocomposite conductor research.