Super-tough and strong nanocomposite fibers by flow-induced alignment of carbon nanotubes on grooved hydrogel surfaces

Nanocomposite fibers have attracted intensive attentions owing to their promising applications in various fields. However, the fabrication of nanocomposite fibers with super toughness and strong strength under mild conditions remains a great challenge. Here we present a facile flow-induced assembly strategy for the development of super-tough and strong nanocomposite fibers with highly ordered carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which can be induced by directional and fast flow on a grooved hydrogel surface. The prepared nanocomposite fibers show excellent mechanical properties, with a tensile strength up to 64327 MPa and toughness as high as 77.3 +/- 3.4 MJ m(-3) at ultimate strain of 14.8 +/- 1.5%. This versatile and efficient flow-induced alignment strategy represents a promising direction for the development of high-performance nanocomposites for practical applications.