Anisotropic terahertz response of stretch-aligned composite films based on carbon nanotube–SiC hybrid structures

Abstract

Well-organized CNT–SiC hybrid structures were prepared by a floating catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) process. The aligned CNT–based composite materials were also fabricated by simply stretching. Gelatin and CNT–SiC hybrid structures were taken as the matrix and fillers, respectively. The alignment of CNT–SiC hybrids and anisotropic properties of the composite materials were discussed using the detection of THz time-domain spectroscopy technology. The results indicated that the anisotropic properties of CNT–SiC hybrid based composite films are better than the case of pure MWCNTs. The unique structure of the hybrids not only largely favors the dispersion of CNTs in a polymer matrix, but also favors the alignment of CNTs in the composites by stretching. The CNT-based composite films with further improvement in anisotropy are highly desirable for various modern applications in the electrical and optical industry (such as in polarizers).