Synergistic effect of carbon nanotube and graphene on multifunctional properties of their polymer composites

Carbon nanotube (CNT) and polymer-based multifunctional composite materials are integrating unique characteristics and functions of these two constituents and have shown improved properties with many potential applications. The development of CNT/polymer nanocomposites has been impeded by their difficulty to be dispersed evenly in polymer matrix. Recent research indicates that agglomeration of CNT in the polymer matrix can be significantly reduced by adding graphene oxide (GO) sheets. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations also reveal that the strong π-. π interactions between GO and CNTs gives rise to a nanoscroll structure which could be well dispersed in water, thus preventing the agglomeration of CNTs. More importantly, a synergistic effect arises from the combination of CNT and GO, the GO-CNT/polymer composite shows superior mechanical properties than polymer composite enhanced by either GO or CNT alone, not only the tensile strength and Young's modulus of the composites are significantly improved, the fatigue and creep rupture lives of polymer matrix are also significantly improved. The enhanced multifunctionality and long-term performance of the GO-CNT/polymer composites can be attributed to the fully exploited reinforcement effect from GO and CNT via good dispersion. Those multifunctional composites may have potentials in large-scale industrial applications, such as in the field of aerospace, automobile, sports, and renewable energy.