Advanced functional carbon nanotube fibers from preparation to application

Carbon nanotube fibers (CNTFs) have attracted extensive interest and are desirable building blocks for advanced functional fibers because of their extraordinary tensile strength, high flexibility, light weight, high specific surface areas, excellent electrical properties, and high thermal conductivity. However, raw CNTFs often need to be pretreated using different functionalization strategies to better satisfy the requirements of different applications. In recent decades, numerous strategies and methods have been developed to realize the functionalization of CNTFs and to fabricate various CNTF-based functional materials. To better show the progress of functional CNTFs in recent years, we summarize the preparation and functionalization strategies of CNTFs in this review. Then we introduce the applications of advanced functional CNTFs in many areas, such as artificial muscles, fiber-shaped energy storage devices, flexible electronic display devices, flexible sensors, and thermal management devices. Finally, the critical issues and perspectives of CNTF-based devices are also discussed.