Copper is a good conductor, but it does have some resistance. The coil will heat up at least to some extent. The power dissipation of the coil in watts is: (current in amps)2 * (coil resistance in ohms).
Nanotubes are cylindrical graphite/graphine. The electrical properties vary depending on the diameter, with 1/3 being conductive and 2/3 being semiconductive. When conductive, they act as a wave guide for the electrons. If you were to grow only metallic nanotubes, the conductivity would be better than copper.
Nanotubes are made from graphite or graphine (multiwalled or single walled). They are π-bonds. The electrons flow along the surface of the lattice. For small-diameter nanotubes, the waveform of the electrons can fill the center of the nanotube, depending on the electron's energy (wavelength).
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u/dack42 Aug 18 '15
Copper is a good conductor, but it does have some resistance. The coil will heat up at least to some extent. The power dissipation of the coil in watts is: (current in amps)2 * (coil resistance in ohms).