Multifunctional Composites of Ceramics and Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 21; no. 17; pp. 1767 - 1770
• Main Author: Padture, Nitin P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 04-05-2009; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: carbon nanotubes; ceramics; composites; single-walled nanotubes
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.200802270

Polycrystalline ceramic/single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) composites possess unique grain boundaries, containing 1D tortuous SWNTs bundles that form 2D tangled embedded nets. This unprecedented grain‐boundary structure allows tailoring of multifunctional ceramic/SWNTs composites with unique combinations of desirable mechanical (toughness, strength, creep) and transport (electrical, thermal) properties. A brief discussion and analysis of recent developments in these composites are presented.
Polycrystalline ceramic/single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) composites possess unique grain boundaries containing 1D tortuous SWNTs bundles that form 2D tangled embedded nets. This unprecedented grain‐boundary structure allows tailoring of multifunctional composites with unique combinations of desirable mechanical (toughness, strength, creep) and transport (electrical, thermal) properties. A brief discussion and analysis of recent developments in these composites are presented.