Carbon Nanotube Aerogels

The creation of carbon nanotube (CNT) aerogels from aqueous-gel precursors by critical-point-drying and freeze-drying is reported. The CNT aerogels are strong and electrically conducting—a potential improvement over current technologies for applications such as sensors, electrodes, and thermoelectric devices. The aerogels can be reinforced by small amounts of poly vinyl alcohol (in the figure the aerogel is supporting 8000 times its own weight).