No. 370: A carbon nanofiber with less electric resistance suitable for EV’s batteries (December 4, 2011)

Teijin and Tokyo Institute of Technology jointly developed a carbon nanofiber (CNF) with 30-40% less electric resistance than the existing products. It is longer than 20 micrometers that is more than 10 times longer than the existing products, and it has less electric resistance because graphite crystals are arranged in a single orientation in layers. This is the world’s first CNF with an oval cross section where graphite crystals are arranged in a single orientation in layers.

The technology can produce a highly pure CNF because it does not use any catalyst in the production process. On top of that, the production cost will be reasonable because existing facilities can be used for the production. It uses the melt spinning method that is the standard method to produce chemical fibers. The new product will be suitable for secondary batteries for EVs like lithium-ion battery, electrode materials like capacitor, electrode additive, and resin additive. It can also be used for a reinforcement material and gas diffusion layer of a fuel cell. Shipment of samples will start soon.