June 2025 Composites Blog
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June 18, 2025
Carbon Nanotube Coils Could Revolutionize Lightweight Electric Motors
Carbon Nanotube Coils Could Revolutionize Lightweight Electric Motors
A team of researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), led by Dr. Dae-Yoon Kim, have achieved a breakthrough that could redefine lightweight electric motors. By developing a fully functional electric motor coil made entirely from carbon nanotubes (CNTs), the team has eliminated the need for metal components in motor construction—a major step forward in sustainable transportation.
Lightweighting is a key goal in advancing electric vehicles, drones, and even spacecraft. Reducing the weight of components like electric motor coils can increase battery efficiency, extend range, and cut emissions. Until now, copper has been the standard for coils, valued for its conductivity, but hindered by weight, resource limitations, and volatile pricing.
What makes this achievement stand out is that the CNT coil not only works but allows for stable control of the motor’s revolutions per minute (RPM) based on input voltage. This proves that the core function of electric motors—converting electricity into rotational energy—can be done without metal.
CNTs have long been praised for their strength, conductivity, and thermal properties, but technical barriers—particularly metal residue left from manufacturing—have blocked their use in advanced components. To solve this, Dr. Kim’s team introduced a purification process using liquid crystal alignment. This technique effectively removes metallic impurities without damaging the CNTs’ structure, leading to dramatically improved conductivity.
Dr. Kim emphasizes that this development lays the groundwork for broader applications, including conductive materials for batteries, pellicles for semiconductors, and cables for robots. Learn more about this topic here.
Lightweighting is a key goal in advancing electric vehicles, drones, and even spacecraft. Reducing the weight of components like electric motor coils can increase battery efficiency, extend range, and cut emissions. Until now, copper has been the standard for coils, valued for its conductivity, but hindered by weight, resource limitations, and volatile pricing.
What makes this achievement stand out is that the CNT coil not only works but allows for stable control of the motor’s revolutions per minute (RPM) based on input voltage. This proves that the core function of electric motors—converting electricity into rotational energy—can be done without metal.
CNTs have long been praised for their strength, conductivity, and thermal properties, but technical barriers—particularly metal residue left from manufacturing—have blocked their use in advanced components. To solve this, Dr. Kim’s team introduced a purification process using liquid crystal alignment. This technique effectively removes metallic impurities without damaging the CNTs’ structure, leading to dramatically improved conductivity.
Dr. Kim emphasizes that this development lays the groundwork for broader applications, including conductive materials for batteries, pellicles for semiconductors, and cables for robots. Learn more about this topic here.
