Synthesis of Graphene-CNT Hybrid Nanostructures

Using chemical vapor deposition technique, a novel 3D carbon nano-architecture called a pillared graphene nanostructure (PGN) is in situ synthesized. The fabricated novel carbon nanostructure consists of CNT pillars of variable length grown vertically from large-area graphene planes. The formation of CNTs and graphene occurs simultaneously in one CVD growth treatment. The detailed characterization of synthesized pillared graphene shows the cohesive structure and seamless contact between graphene and CNTs in the hybrid structure. The synthesized graphene-CNT hybrid has a tunable architecture and attractive material properties, as it is solely built from sp 2 hybridized carbon atoms in form of graphene and CNT. Our methodology provides a pathway for fabricating novel 3D nanostructures which are envisioned for applications in hydrogen storage, nanoelectronics, and supercapacitors.