Abstract

The increasing demand for materials with enhanced properties and high-performance devices has driven substantial research into nanomanufacturing, particularly using carbon nanotubes (CNTs), because of their exceptional properties and high sensitivity to chemical doping. In this way, this work summarizes nanomanufacturing methods for CNT-based devices developed in Brazil, covering the complete cycle from nanocomposite production to functional device assembly across cellulosic, polymeric, and metallic matrix systems. For cellulosic matrices, vacuum filtration enables the production of buckypaper, which is subsequently assembled into chemiresistive, thermoresistive, and thermoelectric devices. For polymeric matrices, 3D printing combined with surface functionalization techniques (spray coating, inverted immersion, and direct immersion) produces piezoresistive robotic sensors, metal-free thermal sensors, and biomedical scaffolds for tissue engineering. For metallic matrices, electrodeposition can produce Cu-CNT-coated aluminum comparable to traditional copper power transmission cables, while arc welding produces stainless steel composites with properties comparable to commercial high-grade steels. These devices have commercial and industrial applications, with low-cost and scalable production methods in comparison with conventional materials. Characterization results demonstrate that CNT integration into diverse matrices successfully bridges nanoscale properties to macroscopic functional devices. Current challenges include uniform CNT dispersion and structural defect control, laboratory to industry scale transition, and long-term device stability under environmental conditions. Future perspectives encompass lab-on-chip systems, wearable devices, 3D-printed smart structures, Internet of Things integration, and machine learning-enhanced analytics.

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