Mixed dimensionality: Highly robust and multifunctional carbon-based composites

The effect of loading a polymer matrix with more than one filler was investigated for nanocarbon-based fillers of different dimensionalities, namely, 1D carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and 2D graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). Since both fillers have superior intrinsic mechanical, electrical and thermal properties, their use in tandem enhanced the properties of the resulting composites. The robustness, i.e., the range of nanofiller concentrations at which a substantial enhancement is achieved (considered as a weakness in single filler systems), was dramatically increased in the hybrid system as well as the thermal and electrical conductivities due to the formation of a CNT-GNP 3D structure. These measurements were in keeping with the Kreiger-Dougherty and the effective medium models, respectively. The overall performance of the hybrid composite was compared to single filler systems (using an index of performance) demonstrating the superiority of the hybrid composite in multifunctionality and robustness.