The Electrical Properties and Conducting Mechanisms of Carbon Nanotube/Polymer Nanocomposites: A Review

This paper reviews the mechanism of the conducting process of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-reinforced polymer nanocomposites. Comparison of the two different mechanisms, the formation of the conducting network and the hopping of the electrons, are discussed. The paper also describes the critical factors that determine percolation thresholds or the conductivity of the nanocomposites. By summarizing the predecessors' research, some measures are put forward to improve the structure of the nanocomposites to get the samples that have the most extraordinary electrical conductivity with the lowest CNTs concentrations.