MNG researchers develop, for the first time, CNT fibres rivalling the electrical conductivity of copper, aluminium cables

Researchers from IMDEA Materials, in collaboration with the Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (CSIC–#UNIZAR) and the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), have demonstrated a scalable manufacturing process for carbon nanotube (CNT) fibres with electrical conductivity comparable to that of copper and aluminium.


The result is a breakthrough for the future of electrification in aerospace, electric vehicles, drones and related applications, which require lightweight and high-strength electrical wiring.

The research, published in Science Magazine, was led by IMDEA Materials’ doctoral researcher Ana Inés De Isidro Gómez. along with Dr. Vilatela, Dr. Anastasiia Mikhalchan and the institute’s Scientific Director and UPM professor, Prof. Javier LLorca, in conjunction with former IMDEA Materials researcher Dr. Valentín Vassilev Galindo.

The paper is the result of a collaboration with the Nanoscopy on Low Dimensional Materials (NLDM) group at INMA, a joint centre of CSIC and the Universidad de Zaragoza, led by Dr. Raúl Arenal (ARAID researcher).

This work, carried out by Dr. Mario Pelaez Fernandez and Dr. Arenal, was conducted at the Advanced Microscopy Laboratory (LMA), one of the nodes of the ELECMI Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructure (ICTS ELECMI).