High Aspect Ratio Of Carbon Nanotubes Research Articles

On the increased interfacial resistance of hydrogen in carbon nanotube arrays and its effect on gas mixture separation

We outline a surface scattering kernel for rarefied gas flows through ideally ordered nanomaterials, such as high aspect ratio carbon nanotubes. The derived model allows for a comparison of the tangential momentum accommodation coefficient, and, hence, the total effective friction, for different species of gases as a function of the particle diameter. This surface kernel is incorporated with a Fokker–Planck model as an approximation to transport of a rarefied gas through ideally ordered carbon nanotubes. The results of this analysis predict that H2 experiences higher friction in such systems in comparison with larger molecules such as CH4. The results are proposed as a potential explanation of the reduced gas transport of hydrogen gas in nanoporous systems.

Construction of high aspect ratio carbon nanotube networks decorated with MoS2 nanoflowers for superior microwave absorption properties

Construction of high aspect ratio carbon nanotube networks decorated with MoS₂ nanoflowers for superior microwave absorption properties

96 Longitudinal Profiling of Carbon Nanotube-Induced Sporadic Mesothelioma Development: Defining the Adverse Outcome Pathway for Disease Progression

Abstract Exposure to asbestos causes pathological changes in the pleural cavity, including malignant mesothelioma (MPM). Length-dependent retention of asbestos fibres in the pleural cavity is crucial for disease development. Chronic inflammation induced by biopersistent asbestos fibres plays a key role in carcinogenesis. Engineered CarbonNanoTubes (CNT) are similar to long-fibre asbestos (LFA) in terms of their high aspect-ratio and thus may pose an asbestos-like inhalation hazard, with evidence from our laboratory and others showing the carcinogenic potential of Long-CNT. Asbestos-induced MPM is diagnosed most commonly at late stage; as a result, little is known about the genetic or epigenetic aberrations occurring in pre-malignant pleural lesions and whether they align with deletions/mutations commonly found in end-stage asbestos-exposed patient tumours. Using a mouse model of direct injection into the pleural cavity, we compared the molecular changes that occur at the mesothelium following injection with an occupationally-relevant dose of Long-CNT or LFA over 20-months. We show a common molecular signature induced by Long-CNT and LFA throughout disease progression eventually leading to the development of sporadic MPM. DNA methylation, gene expression profiles, as well as specific genes are similarly altered in the presence of Long-CNT and LFA, at matched longitudinal exposure times. For the first time, these data uncover the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) from initial Long-CNT exposure through to induction of pre-neoplastic lesions and the development of sporadic pleural mesothelioma, replicating the pathogenesis of end-stage asbestos-induced human disease. This reinforces concerns that high aspect-ratio CNT may pose an asbestos-like hazard, including sporadic malignant mesothelioma.

(Invited) All-Carbon Nanotube Photovoltaic Device Employing Energy Hierarchy

The use of an energy funnel or hierarchy to efficiently transfer photoexcitations is not new. In photosynthetic systems, whether in plants, algae, or photosynthetic bacteria, to achieve high efficiency, special light-harvesting protein complexes convert sunlight to excitons. High efficiency is achieved by temporarily storing excitons in these complexes before shuttling them to the reaction center where the conversion to usable energy takes place. For added efficiency, photosynthetic systems have adopted an energy hierarchy that funnels excitations from the light-harvesting complexes to the reaction center.The use of an energy funnel to increase the efficiency of photovoltaic devices, however, has not been widely adopted, due in part to limited materials compatibility and energy landscape. An energy funnel can absorb over a broad solar spectrum while minimizing the volume of material needed to construct a device, which can reduce the dark leakage current. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) provide an ideal system to explore this new feature since a single material system can provide a wide range of energy levels. Depending on the diameter, excitonic levels in CNTs span from the visible to near-infrared spectrum. Furthermore, the device design can take advantage of the high aspect ratio of CNTs, to efficiently transport both free carriers and excitons along the nanotube.Here, we describe our efforts to develop photovoltaic p-n diodes using energy hierarchy. We use a network of CNTs in a p-n junction configuration where the transport is mostly along the CNTs. To form the p-n junction, we use buried split gates that are biased independently to form the p- and n-doped regions. The use of split gates is an extension of our earlier studies on single CNT p-n diodes.We use different chirality CNTs to implement the energy hierarchy. Specifically, the network is structured to funnel excitons by placing larger bandgap semiconducting nanotubes on top of smaller bandgap CNTs. We discuss features that show enhanced exciton to photocurrent generation in these devices compared to devices without the energy hierarchy.

Ultrasensitive wearable sensor with novel hybrid structures of silver nanowires and carbon nanotubes in fluoroelastomer: Multi-directional sensing for human health monitoring and stretchable electronics

Today, wearable sensors are being developed for personalized human health monitoring for physical motion detection and physiological signal detection, and well-being. These wearable devices need to be extremely flexible, lightweight, and stretchable to be compatible with the contours of the human body, and mechanically and dynamically stable. Their functionality can be assured by simultaneously increasing conductivity, stretchability, and sensitivity for accurate and fast response. The challenge in fabricating stretchable sensors with these functionalities is embracing current wearable fashion. In this work, for the first time, a new 3D hybrid nanonetwork structures of high aspect ratio silver nanowires (AgNW) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) in fluoroelastomer FKM are developed. An optimized solution mixing (SM) and layer by layer (LBL) assembly technique, and LBL drop-coating process are employed to establish the hierarchical and shell-like nanostructures. The sensor films are ultra-thin and show high conductivity up to 2 × 105 S. m−1, high stretchability of up to 300%, and a maximum sensitivity (gage factor) of up to 2.5 × 107. The multifunctional sensor with hybrid nanonetwork shows high performance in various wearable electronic applications including human motion detection and stretchable light-emitting diode (LED) circuits. These ultra-sensitive materials show capability for multidirectional sensing by special configurations for each human body part movement, and small movements for human heartbeat monitoring.

One‐stepfabrication of bulk nanocomposites reinforced by carbon nanotube array fragments

AbstractVertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) array growth is an established process where high aspect ratio carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are produced. This work demonstrates one‐step approach to fabricate bulk polymer nanocomposites using CNT array fragments'. Here, 4.5 mm long CNTs were collected post VACNTs synthesis. Next, CNT array fragments were coated with pyrolytic carbon (PyC) and infused with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix to create porous CNT/PDMS nanocomposite with a CNT weight fraction of 20%. Achieving similar weight fraction with super long bundled CNTs using dispersion techniques is extremely difficult. The compression and dynamic mechanical behaviors and piezoresistive response of the PDMS filled nanocomposite were assessed. The results revealed the potential of the synthesized structure to serve as fatigue‐resistant pressure sensors with high damping and self‐sensing capabilities. The proposed fabrication technique is versatile, as it can work with thermosetting and thermoplastic polymers in addition to allowing for mass production of PDMS filled nanocomposites.

Percolation Conduction of Carbon Nanocomposites.

Carbon nanocomposites present a new class of nanomaterials in which conducting carbon nanoparticles are a small additive to a non-conducting matrix. A typical example of such composites is a polymer matrix doped with carbon nanotubes (CNT). Due to a high aspect ratio of CNTs, inserting rather low quantity of nanotubes (on the level of 0.01%) results in the percolation transition, which causes the enhancement in the conductivity of the material by 10–12 orders of magnitude. Another type of nanocarbon composite is a film produced as a result of reduction of graphene oxide (GO). Such a film is consisted of GO fragments whose conductivity is determined by the degree of reduction. A distinctive peculiarity of both types of nanocomposites relates to the dependence of the conductivity of those materials on the applied voltage. Such a behavior is caused by a non-ideal contact between neighboring carbon nanoparticles incorporated into the composite. The resistance of such a contact depends sharply on the electrical field strength and therefore on the distance between neighboring nanoparticles. Experiments demonstrating non-linear, non-Ohmic behavior of both above-mentioned types of carbon nanocomposites are considered in the present article. There has been a model description presented of such a behavior based on the quasi-classical approach to the problem of electron tunneling through the barrier formed by the electric field. The calculation results correspond qualitatively to the available experimental data.

Analysis of critical interfacial shear strength between polymer matrix and carbon nanotubes and its impact on the tensile strength of nanocomposites

This paper focuses on the critical interfacial shear strength (τc) and interfacial shear strength (τ) between polymer matrix and carbon nanotubes (CNT) in nanocomposites, which divide the interphase region to two zones: τ < τc near the polymer matrix and τ > τc beside the CNT. “τc” is defined by CNT properties and a model is developed to consider the roles of “τ” and “τc” in the tensile strength of nanocomposites. Numerous experimental data for various samples and the parametric examines are applied to approve the developed approach. The high aspect ratio of CNT (thin and long CNT) produces a low “τc”, but the CNT strength directly influences the “τc”. The suitable agreement between experimental data and calculations for all samples and the proper roles of all parameters in the tensile strength of nanocomposites confirm the developed model. Low “τc” and high “τ” cause a high nanocomposite strength, but the strength of nanocomposites largely increases when τ > 5 τc.

Synergetic Impact of Carbon Nanotube and/or Graphene Reinforcement on the Mechanical Performance of Glass Fiber/Epoxy Composite

The exceptional and distinctive properties of the allotropes of carbonaceous nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes and graphene have attracted many researchers and engineers to enhance the performance of fibrous polymeric composites. This article extrapolates the synergetic impact of carbon nanotube (CNT) and multi-layered graphene (MLG) reinforcement onto the mechanical performance of glass fiber/epoxy composites. Magnetic stirring and ultra-sonication process have been carried out under optimized parameters for incorporation of CNT-MLG into the epoxy polymer. Incorporation of 0.1wt% of carbon nanotube to the glass fiber/epoxy composites enhances a flexural strength of 10% and addition of 0.1 wt. % of multi layered graphene to the glass fiber/ epoxy composites enhances a flexural strength of 6% when differentiated with neat GE. Embodiment of 0.1 wt. % CNT and MLG to the glass fiber/epoxy composites in three different ratios like 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1 showcases a 13%, 12.25% and 14.7% enhancement in the flexural strength respectively with respect to the neat glass fiber/epoxy composites when tested at room temperature. Among them, the ratio 2:1(CNT: MLG) contributes higher strength due to the combined action of high aspect ratio of CNT and higher specific surface area of multi-layered graphene thus, facilitating efficient stress transfer from matrix to the reinforcements. Thermal characterizations have been carried out using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The fractography of the samples is examined through the scanning electron microscope.

Unique approach to debundle carbon nanotubes in polymer matrix using carbon dots for enhanced properties

Excellent dispersion of nanofillers like carbon nanotubes (CNTS) in an aqueous medium of rubber latex through covalent interactions is required to achieve extraordinary reinforcement at very low filler concentration. Herein, aqueous dispersible carbon dots (CDOTS) have been used as dispersion aid to debundle CNTS in carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (XNBR) latex. The amine groups of CDOTS have been covalently conjugated with the acid groups of CNTS and XNBR latex through amide bond formation that leads to enhanced interactions between XNBR and CNTS through CDOTS. In addition, CDOTS weaken the strong intertubular van der Waals attraction between the CNTS which results in the efficient dispersion of high aspect ratio CNTS in the XNBR matrix and thereby significantly improves the overall properties. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies establish the success of covalent conjugation of CDOTS with CNTS and XNBR latex. The mechanical, dynamic mechanical, thermal stability and thermal conductivity properties of the XNBR-CDOTS-CNTS hybrid nanocomposites are prominently higher when compared to neat XNBR, XNBR-CNTS nanocomposites and XNBR-CDOTS nanocomposites. From transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies it has been ascertained that the CDOTS act as an interconnector between CNTS that prevents agglomeration of CNTS in the XNBR matrix.

Evaluating the effect of addition of nanodiamond on the synergistic effect of graphene-carbon nanotube hybrid on the mechanical properties of epoxy based composites

Addition of carbon nanotubes (CNT) to Graphene (Gr) is seen to have synergistic effect as reinforcement to polymer matrix. This is possible as CNTs inhibit stacking of Gr sheets, thus providing larger surface area nanophase to get bonded with polymer matrix and providing mechanical support through load sharing and crack growth inhibition. However, tube like morphology and high aspect ratio of CNT often lead to entanglement, which restricts their effect in exfoliating Gr. The aim of the present study is to investigate the potential of ND in improving the synergistic effect of Gr-CNT hybrid as a reinforcement to epoxy matrix. This study utilizes the power of ultrasonication technique, which is very simple and scalable, for dispersing and incorporating nanofillers into epoxy matrix. Addition of ND to Gr-CNT epoxy composite improved the tensile strength from ~46% with 0.5 wt% (75Gr:25ND) to ~51% with 0.8 wt% (25Gr:25CNT:50ND) as compared to neat epoxy. While the fracture toughness improved from ~140% with 0.5 wt% (25Gr:75CNT) to 165% with 0.8 wt% (25Gr:50CNT:25ND). Fractured surfaces of composites revealed improved dispersion and strong interfacial interaction with addition of ND to Gr-CNT hybrid. NDs attaches to the surface of Gr inhibit the stacking of Gr sheets by restricting π-π stabilization. NDs also help in bridging the ends of CNTs together into long chains, thereby increasing the aspect ratio of the fiber like reinforcement. This increases the total available surface area of CNTs and Gr, to interact with epoxy matrix, improves the overall efficiency of Gr-CNT hybrid as a reinforcement, resulting into improvement in mechanical properties of the composite structure.

Conducting Super-Hydrophobic Thin Film for Electric Heating Applications.

Frost presents a serious problem for the human environment, resulting in such phenomena as downed power lines, damaged crops and stalled aircraft. In addition, frost and ice accumulation significantly decrease the performance of ships, wind turbines, and HVAC systems with high failure risk. Super-hydrophobic (SH) surface can be an appropriate solution for frost problems, due to its anti-icing properties that can prevent ice nucleation on the surface. In addition, in the case of conducting SH surface using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a filler, it can form an excellent heating unit, owing to the resistive heating effect. The purpose of this study is to produce a large-area conducting SH film that can prevent ice nucleus and remove ice formation rapidly. High aspect ratio carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a conducting filler and adhesive polymer resin as a binder were used to form coating layer. In addition, silica particles (~7 nm) were used to stabilize nano-size roughness of the SH surface. Wet and dry etching processes were used on the substrate to improve wettability and to produce organic functional groups. To evaluate the de-icing effect, the fabricated SH surface was rapidly heated to 150 °C by applying voltage.

Design and preparation of carbon black/carbon nanotubes/ silicone elastomer composites with high elasticity and high electrical conductivity stability

Conductive elastomer composites (CECs) with high elasticity, flexibility and sealability of elastomers and the high electrical conductivity of conductive fillers have been widely used in electromagnetic interference shielding, microwave absorpting, stretchable electronics and sensors. To achieve high electrical conductivity, the commonly used fillers are metal powers, metal-coated inorganic particles and carbon black (CB). High filler content is usually required to effectively improve the conductivity, resulting in low elasticity, low flexibility, and poor processability, all of which limit the applications of CECs. Earlier works reported the synergistic effect of two kinds of fillers with different geometrical dimensions, among which CB and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are two promising candidate that have been widely studied. However, CNTs are easily entangled and aggregated in elastomer matrix with low viscosity, resulting in unsatisfactory conductivity (mostly 104–105 Ω cm). Moreover, little attention has been paid on CECs with high elasticity, high electrical conductivity stability filled with low filler contents (low cost) for stretchable electronics and strain sensors. The relationship between conductive network and electrical conductivity as well as electrical conductivity stability is still not clear. In this study, we designed and prepared CB/CNTs/polymethylvinylsiloxane (PMVS) composites with good elasticity, high electrical conductivity and good electrical conductivity stability by tailoring the filler network structure of the composites with a low content of CB and CNTs in PMVS matrix. The composite with 1.8 vol% of CNTs and 1.2 vol% of CB showed high elasticity, low volume resistivity (271 Ω cm), and high electrical conductivity stability. CNTs used in this study were carbon nanotube arrays (CNTA) that were in situ synthesized on single-layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets by chemical vapor deposition method. The negatively charged CNTs with a loose structure showed no physical entanglement, which can be well dissociated into many single CNTs and dispersed uniformly in PMVS matrix during mechanical shearing. The high aspect ratio of CNTs can help to obtain high conductivity at low filler content, whereas the isotropy of CB helps to rebuild up the new conductive network after tensile strain. On the other hand, these CNTs are curved in the elastomer matrix, become oriented during stretching, and can curve again after recovery, and thus act as nanosprings. The high elasticity of the CNTs nanosprings leads to high elasticity of the PMVS-CB-CNTs composites. We further studied the relationship between conductive network and electrical conductivity as well as electrical conductivity stability of PMVS-CB-CNTs composites. The results showed that CB and CNTs can form a strong dual conductive network at low filler contents, leading to a high conductivity. When stretching, CNTs act as bridges to connect CB and CB aggregations together, maintaining the strong conductive network and thus high electrical conductivity stability under tensile strain. After tensile recovery, CB and CNTs can reform a strong conductive network, leading to high electrical stability during tensile-release cycles.

Tribological behavior of self-lubricating carbon nanoparticle reinforced metal matrix composites

The present study focuses on investigating the dominant friction and wear mechanisms in case of dry sliding of carbon nanoparticle reinforced nickel matrix composites under elastic and elasto-plastic contact conditions. For this purpose, multi-wall carbon nanotubes (CNT), onion-like carbon (OLC) and nanodiamonds (nD) were chosen to represent a large variety of carbon nanoparticles as they can be systematically distinguished regarding their carbon hybridization state (sp 2 vs. sp3) as well as their morphology and size (“0D” vs. “1D”). Contact simulations based on the Greenwood-Williamson model are conducted in order to calculate the required contact loads. Friction and wear analysis is supported by complementary characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, light microscopy as well as laser scanning microscopy. It is found, that only CNT provide efficient lubrication as reinforcement phase in composites, presenting different lubrication mechanisms for the tested contact conditions. The high aspect ratio of CNT is found to be essential for the lubrication mechanisms, allowing the particles to be dragged into the direct tribological contact. The lubrication effect increases with increasing volume content of CNT, reaching a maximum steady state frictional reduction of 50% compared to the unreinforced nickel reference.

Flexible 3D carbon nanotubes cuff electrodes as a peripheral nerve interface.

The cuff electrode provides a stable interface with peripheral nerves, which has been widely used in basic research and clinical practice. Currently, the cuff electrodes are limited by the planar processing of microfabrication. This paper presents a novel cuff electrode using high-aspect ratio carbon nanotubes (CNTs) integrated on a flexible biocompatible parylene. The microfabrication process unites the high quality vertical CNTs grown at high temperature with the heat sensitive parylene substrate in a highly controllable manner. The fabricated cuff electrodes have been utilized for extracellular nerve stimulation in rats. The experimental results demonstrate the proposed CNT electrode has a better performance than Pt electrode in nerve stimulation. Moreover, the effect of electrode position and stimulation frequency is demonstrated in this paper. This preliminary data indicates that flexible 3D CNTs cuff electrode provides an excellent platform for functional electrical stimulation.

Solution Based Methods for the Fabrication of Carbon Nanotube Modified Atomic Force Microscopy Probes.

High aspect ratio carbon nanotubes are ideal candidates to improve the resolution and lifetime of atomic force microscopy (AFM) probes. Here, we present simple methods for the preparation of carbon nanotube modified AFM probes utilising solvent evaporation or dielectrophoresis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the modified probes shows that the carbon nanotubes attach to the probe apex as fibres and display a high aspect ratio. Many of the probes made in this manner were initially found to exhibit anomalous feedback characteristics during scanning, which rendered them unsuitable for imaging. However, we further developed and demonstrated a simple method to stabilise the carbon nanotube fibres by scanning with high force in tapping mode, which either shortens or straightens the carbon fibre, resulting in stable and high quality imaging AFM imaging.

Polymer Composite Containing Carbon Nanotubes and their Applications.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are attractive nanostructures in this regard, primarily due to their high aspect ratio coupled with high thermal and electrical conductivities. Consequently, CNT polymer composites have been extensively investigated for various applications, owing to their light weight and processibility. However, there have been several issues affecting the utilization of CNTs, such as aggregation (bundling) which leads to a non-uniform dispersion and poor interfacial bonding of the CNTs with the polymer, resulting in variation in composite performance, along with the additional issue of high cost of CNTs. In this article, recent research and patents for polymer composites containing carbon nanomaterial are presented and summarized. In addition, a rationale for optimally designed carbon nanotube polymer composites and their applications are suggested. Above the electrical percolation threshold, a transition from insulator to conductor occurs. The percolation threshold values of CNT composite are dependent on filler shape, intrinsic properties of filler, type of polymer, CNT dispersion condition and so on. Different values of percolation threshold CNT polymer composites have been summarized. The difference in percolation threshold and conductivity of CNT composites could be explained by the degree of effective interactions between nanotubes and polymer matrix. The reaction between surface functional groups of CNTs and polymer could contribute to better dispersion of CNTs in polymer matrix. Consequently, it increased the number of electrical networks of CNTs in polymer, resulting in an enhancement of composite conductivity. In addition, to exfoliate nanotubes from heavy bundles, ultrasonication with proper solvent and three roll milling processes were used. Potential reactions of covalent bonding between functionalized CNTs and polymer were suggested based on the above rationale. Through the use of CNT functionalization, high aspect ratio CNTs, and proper fabrication, uniform dispersion of nanotubes in polymer can be achieved leading to considerable improvement in electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties.

Geometry of carbon nanotubes and mechanisms of phagocytosis and toxic effects

A review of in vivo and in vitro toxicological studies of the potential toxic effects of carbon nanotubes is presented along with the analysis of experimental data and a hypothesis about the nanotube-asbestos similarity. Developments of the structure-activity paradigm have been reviewed along with the size effects and the classification of carbon nanotubes into eleven distinct classes (e.g., the high aspect ratio nanotubes, thick multi-wall nanotubes and short nanotubes). Scaling analysis of similarities between different classes of carbon nanotubes and asbestos fibers in the context of their potential toxicity and the efficiency of phagocytosis has been reviewed. The potential toxic effects of carbon nanotubes have been characterized by their normalized length, their aspect ratio and other parameters related to their inhalability, engulfment by macrophages and the effectiveness of phagocytosis. Geometric scaling parameters and the classification of carbon nanotubes are used to develop an updated parametric map for the extrapolation of the potential toxic effects resulting from the inhalation of long and short carbon nanotubes. An updated parametric map has been applied to the evaluation of the efficiency of phagocytosis involving distinct classes of carbon nanotubes. A critical value of an important nondimensional parameter characterizing the efficiency of phagocytosis for different nanotubes is presented along with its macrophage-based normalization. The present evaluation of the potential toxicological effects of the high aspect ratio carbon nanotubes is found to be in the agreement with other available studies and earlier scaling analyses.

Golden Carbon Nanotube Membrane for Continuous Flow Catalysis

In this work, a high-performance catalytic membrane, composed of ultrasmall gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) and high aspect-ratio carbon nanotubes (CNTs), was designed for the continuous-flow catalytic reactions. In this hybrid catalytic membrane, the Au core of the NCs serves as high-performance catalyst, and the ligand of the NCs plays two key roles: (1) as a well-defined surfactant assembly to effectively dissolve CNTs in aqueous solution and (2) as an efficient protecting ligand for Au core to avoid agglomeration. Due to the above-mentioned features, a homogeneous 3D self-support catalytic membrane can be readily fabricated by vacuum filtration of the hybrid AuNCs/CNTs. The catalytic activity of the as-designed catalytic membrane was evaluated using 4-nitrophenol hydrogenation as a model catalytic reaction. The data suggest that the continuous flow catalytic reactor could achieve complete conversion of the substrate (i.e., 4-nitrophenol) within a single flow through the membrane with a hydraulic residence t...

Synergistic effects of hybrid carbon nanomaterials in room‐temperature‐vulcanized silicone rubber

AbstractThis work examines nanocomposites based on nanofillers and room‐temperature‐vulcanized silicone rubber. The carbon nanofillers used were conductive carbon black (CB), carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene (GE). Vulcanizates for CB, GE, CNTs as the only filler and hybrid fillers using CNTs, CB and GE were prepared by solution mixing. The elastic modulus for CNT hybrid with CB at 15 phr (4.65 MPa) was higher than for CB hybrid with GE (3.13 MPa) and CNTs/CB/GE as the only filler. Similarly, the resistance for CNT hybrid with CB at 10 phr (0.41 kΩ) was lower than for CB (0.84 kΩ) at 20 phr and CNTs as the only filler. These improvements result from efficient filler networking, a synergistic effect among the carbon nanomaterials, the high aspect ratio of CNTs and the improved filler dispersion in the rubber matrix. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry