Energy-Absorbing Hybrid Composites Based on Alternate Carbon-Nanotube and Inorganic Layers

Hybrid materials with aligned carbon nanotubes; intercalating naturally layered compounds (see upper figures) are fabricated using general metal-ion intercalation and in situ growth. As indicated by SEM images (lower figures), they exhibit periodic and hierarchical structures. The ability to control their composition resulted in some samples possessing excellent mechanical properties, such as high energy absorption during compression.