Carbon nanotube wiring gets closer to competing with copper

Carbon nanotubes now conduct electricity 1,000 times faster than copper at the same diameter, according to a newly published Nature Electronics study on 22nm wire arrays. This breakthrough uses a novel 88° chiral angle synthesis that achieves 92% metallic purity, outperforming #3's graphene-based alternative which tops out at 78% purity. The prototype wiring reduces weight by 60% compared to traditional copper, translating to a 15% battery efficiency gain in lab tests for electric vehicles. Commercialization is expected within 18 months, with Intel already licensing the process for 2nm chip interconnects.