This research paper investigates the potential of ultra-thin carbon nanothreads-based bundles for high-density mechanical energy storage. Using in silico studies and continuum elasticity theory, the authors demonstrate that these bundles exhibit a high gravimetric energy density, which decreases with the number of filaments. Torsion and tension are identified as the dominant contributors to energy storage, with the bundle experiencing fracture before reaching the elastic limit of individual deformation modes. The nanothread bundles show comparable energy storage capacity to carbon nanotube bundles but offer advantages such as achieving full mechanical energy storage potential through pure tension, reaching up to 1.76 MJ kg⁻¹ gravimetric energy density.

Haifei Zhan, Gang Zhang, John M. Bell, Vincent B. C. Tan, Yuantong Gu