Functionalized Carbon Nanostructures-Based Conductive Coatings

Carbon nanostructured materials have drawn a lot of interest because of their potential for usage in a variety of industries, including coatings, medicine, the environment, and energy storage. Fullerene, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene or nano-carbon coatings, and diamond or porous carbon are all examples of nanostructured carbon materials that exhibit different allotropes at the zero-, one-, two-, and three-dimensional nanoscales. A small quantity of these nanomaterials, because of their nanoscale dimension and high aspect ratio, may significantly increase the characteristics of their composite materials. To modify the surface wettability of carbon nanostructures and to impart biocompatible qualities, surface functionalization is often used as an effective option. Wet or dry methods are used to attach the required chemical species onto the carbon nanoparticles, creating a stable association via the grafting of functional groups. Despite their amazing qualities, the commercialization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene is reportedly constrained owing to their bundle and layer-forming tendencies. To maximize their mechanical and electrical activities dispersed in polymer matrices, CNTs and graphene must be functionalized. The synthesized composites also represent a new generation of organic protective coverings capable of intelligently responding to damage or environmental stimuli. The major method by which carbon nanoparticles give new functionality to polymer coatings has increased electrical conductivity of the nanocomposite as a result of the formation of a percolation network. This chapter presents an overview of functionalized carbon-based materials such as carbon nanotubes as well as relevant developments for applications using conductive coatings.