The 2009/2010 George D. Graffin Lectureship in Carbon Science and Engineering

Dr. Ray H. Baughman
Director, Alan G. MacDiarmid NanoTech Institute
University of Texas, Dallas

Carbon Nanotube Yarns And Sheets For Energy Harvesting, Energy Conversion, And Energy Storage

The American Carbon Society, supported by grants from the Asbury Graphite Mills, Inc., sponsors this lecture series in North American Universities. The lecture series is in honor of George D. Graffin, who was a pioneer in the natural graphite industry. Each year the Society selects a lecturer who has made distinguished contributions to carbon science and engineering. The lecture is available to North American universities, by arrangement with the lecturer.

Abstract:
Ray's Graffin Lecture will describe fabrication of novel assemblies of carbon nanotubes, including forms ten times lighter than air that are stronger per pound than steel and able to expand when hydrostatically compressed. Explanations will then be provided for these and other seemingly impossible property combinations. Finally, novel applications for nanotube yarns and sheets will be described: for thermo-electrochemically harvesting waste heat as electrical energy, fuel powered artificial muscles, electrically powered giant stroke and giant stroke rate muscles that operate from near 0 K to over 1900 K, storing energy, and more.