This document describes the composition and method for manufacturing aluminum/carbon composites with ultra-high conductivity. Solid phase processing techniques such as shear assisted processing and extrusion, direct extrusion, hot forging, and pultrusion can be used to make the aluminum/carbon composites. Carbon used to make the ultra-high conductivity materials is in the form of allotropes such as graphite, graphene, buckyballs, carbon nanotubes as well as quantum dots. The composites can contain carbon in the range of 0 - 1 wt.% and demonstrate electrical conductivity and ampacity (current density) greater than that of aluminum at 20 - 500 degrees C. They also demonstrate temperature coefficient of resistance lower than that of pure aluminum.