Branched carbon nanostructures such as branched-Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (b-MWCNTs, Fig. 1) are exotic types of carbon nanostructures whose technological potential have not yet been fully explored. Although MWCNTs have been used to improve the properties of composite materials, there are currently still two main problems remaining to be solved before MWCNT/composite materials can realize their full potential:-

(1) adequate dispersion of the nanotube-reinforcement material, and

(2) strong enough interfacial bonding between the nanotube-reinforcement elements and the composite matrix.

These problems can be addressed by utilizing branched-carbon nanostructures as it is known (from theory and simulation experiments) that branched fibres greatly enhance interfacial bonding e.g. the ancient process of adding straw to mud to make stronger bricks. It is well known that, in the case of carbon nanotube networks, junction resistance is the dominant limiting factor and so, a network of branched-carbon nanostructures would significantly reduce this network resistance. . Therefore, in addition to potential improvements in composite applications, the electrical properties of networks made of branched-carbon nanostructures could have major benefits to the existing commercial application of CNT/CNF reinforced composites in Conductive Static Dissipation (ESD) as well as potential use in Supercapacitors, Solar Cells and Li-Ion batteries.

Acknowledgements: S. M. acknowledges the continuing support of Prof Dr M. M. Kappes. This work was partly supported by World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI Initiative) from MEXT, Japan and we thank Dr Daisuke Fuijita and Dr Kiyotaka Iiayma for their support. We acknowledge Dr. Tony D. Keene, Southampton University for his support. We also thank Bayer Material Science A.G. for supply of MWCNT. The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of COST Action CA15107.

Figures:

Fig. 1 HRTEM detail of T-branched MWNT

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