Relating bulk resistivity to nanoscale mechanical responses of carbon nanotubes randomly orientated in monoliths under compression

The bulk electrical resistivity of randomly orientated multi-walled carbon nanotubes assembled into monoliths was monitored under uniaxial compression–expansion cycling, which exhibited a linear response in the range of ε = 20–40%. In situ scanning electron microscopy of the compression and expansion steps detailed the mechanical response of individual carbon nanotubes and indicated that their localised, nonlinear responses account for the subtle deviations from the theoretical consideration of electrical resistivity under applied strains.