@article{Li2026, 
author = {Yunhang Li and Jiankun Huang and Xudong Lei and Tongzhao Sun and Xianqian Wu and Yuanlong Shao and Jin Zhang and Yongyi Zhang and Muqiang Jian},
title = {Mechanically robust carbon nanotube composite fibers via reinforced intertube interactions},
year = {2026},
journal = {Nano Research},
volume = {19},
number = {4},
pages = {94908598},
keywords = {carbon nanotube fiber, wet spinning, interfacial interactions, hydrogen-bonding, poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole)},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/NR.2026.94908598},
doi = {10.26599/NR.2026.94908598},
abstract = {Carbon nanotube fibers (CNTFs) offer exceptional intrinsic properties but are often limited by assembly defects and inefficient intertube load transfer. Here, we report a wet-spinning strategy enabled by poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) nanofibers and chains (PBOs)-reinforced intertube interactions to fabricate mechanically robust PBO/carbon nanotube (CNT) composite fibers (PCNTFs). By optimizing the PBOs content, highly aligned and densely packed CNT networks are formed and stabilized by a hydrogen-bonding interfacial architecture. Comprehensive structural characterization reveals maximized nanotube orientation, minimized void volume, and strengthened interfacial interactions at the optimal composition. As a result, the PCNTFs achieve a high tensile strength of 3.52 GPa, a Young’s modulus of 306 GPa, and a toughness of 71.5 MJ/m3, representing a 2.7-fold enhancement in toughness compared with pristine CNTFs. In situ Raman spectroscopy, stress–relaxation analysis, and fracture morphology observations further confirm the critical role of hydrogen-bonding-mediated interfacial interactions in governing efficient stress transfer and energy dissipation. Moreover, the optimized fibers exhibit a high specific penetration energy of 1.39 MJ/kg under high-speed impact, exceeding that of conventional impact-resistant fibers. This work establishes a scalable interfacial design strategy for CNT-based fibers with simultaneously high strength and toughness and provides a feasible pathway toward next-generation fibers for structural and multifunctional applications.}
}