Carbon nanotube-metal oxide nanocomposites: Fabrication, properties and applications

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), a carbonaceous material, depend on morphology, size and diameter have highly unique properties in mechanical strength, thermal stability electrical conductivity, catalytic and adsorption. Over the past decades, combination of carbon nanotube with metal oxide is an effective way to build hybrid carbon architectures with fascinating new properties. The present review summarizes the recent advances on the principle and techniques of preparation, functionalization of the carbon nanotubes (CNTs). On the other hand, it discusses the effects of combination of CNT with metal oxides such as aluminum dioxide, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, iron oxide and etc. and how they can be applied toward novel devices with remarkable properties for an extensive range of applications, over the past six years. This review provides the fundamental insights into the strategies for development of nano-hybrid with multifunctional properties for a broad range of applications such as sensor, supercapacitors, absorbent, photocatalytic, photovoltaic and etc. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.