Issues in production of carbon nanotubes and related nanocomposites: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Polymer nanofibers are being increasingly used for a wide range of applications owing to their high specific surface area. The electrospinning process, as a novel and effective method for producing nanofibers from various materials, has been utilized to fabricate nanofibrous membranes. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have a number of outstanding mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties, which make them attractive as reinforcement in a polymer matrix. The incorporation of CNT into polymer nanofibers can improve the properties of electrospun nanofibrous composites. This paper provides a comprehensive review of current research and development in the field of electrospun CNT-polymer composite nanofiber with emphasis on the processing, properties, and application of composite nanofiber, as well as the' theoretical approaches to predicting the mechanical behavior of CNT-polymer composites. The current limitations, research challenges, and future trends in modeling and simulation of electrospun polymer composite nanofibers are also discussed.