Patent ID: 7867468

Claim:
A method of forming a hybrid carbon nanotube-fiber structure, comprising: selecting a plurality of fibers; obtaining a first carbon nanotube dispersion comprising a first plurality of carbon nanotubes, wherein the concentration of the first plurality of carbon nanotubes within the dispersion is greater than or equal to about 0.01 mg/mL; placing the plurality of fibers in a vessel containing the first dispersion and adjacent to a plurality of electrodes, the vessel including a conductive frame for supporting the plurality of fibers; and generating an electric field between the plurality of fibers and a plurality of electrodes so as to cause at least a portion of the CNTs within the dispersion to be deposited on the sidewalls of the fibers, wherein the conductive frame is configured to control the uniformity of the electric potential distribution of the generated electric field to aid in depositing the at least a portion of the CNTs on the sidewalls of the fibers.