Highly Aligned Ni-Decorated GO-CNT Nanostructures in Epoxy with Enhanced Thermal and Electrical Properties

In this study, graphene oxide-carbon nanotubes nanostructures decorated with nickel nanoparticles (NiGNT) were prepared through the molecular-level-mixing method, followed by a reduction process, and then applied as reinforcements to enhance the epoxy resin matrix. The ferromagnetism of the Ni nanoparticles allowed NiGNT nanostructures to be vertically aligned within the composite with the assistance of a magnetic field. Due to the alignment distribution of the NiGNT, the composites demonstrated enhanced anisotropic thermal and electrical conduction performances, compared with pure epoxy and randomly distributed composites. The aligned distribution of NiGNT-epoxy composites displayed 2.7 times higher thermal conductivity and around 10⁴ times better electrical conduction performance, compared with pure epoxy. The thermal expansion of NiGNT-epoxy composite was also restricted in the aligned direction of NiGNT nanostructures. Thus, NiGNT-epoxy composites show great potential as future aerospace, aviation, and automobile materials.