Researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) have created an electric motor coil using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) instead of copper. This innovation addresses the weight and environmental concerns associated with copper.
CNT coils offer several advantages:
The KIST team overcame previous challenges by developing a new purification process using liquid crystals, which effectively removes metal impurities from CNTs, enhancing their conductivity.
Tests on a model car showed the CNT motor achieving a lower speed (1.87 km/h) compared to the copper motor (4.86 km/h). However, the CNT coil weighed significantly less (78 mg vs. 379 mg). While the CNTs' conductivity is currently lower than copper's, the efficiency gap is narrowing due to advancements in purification and alignment techniques.
This development holds significant potential for electric vehicles, reducing weight and potentially enhancing energy efficiency and range. The more sustainable manufacturing process also addresses environmental concerns.