The CVD route for carbon nanotube production has become a popular method to make large amounts of multiwall carbon nanotubes. The structure, morphology and size of carbon materials depend critically on the catalyst preparation and deposition conditions. According to current knowledge, CVD method is the only process which can produce carbon nanocoils. These nanocoils are perfect candidates for nanotechnology applications. One might indeed hope that these coils would have the extraordinary stiffness displayed by straight nanotubes. Based on theoretical studies, regular coiled nanotubes exhibit exceptional mechanical, electrical, and magnetic properties due to the combination of their peculiar helical morphology and the fascinating properties of nanotubes. In spite of its technological interest, relatively low attention has been paid to this special field. In this paper we attempt to summarize results obtained until now.

We demonstrate that single crystals of methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr3) could be grown directly on vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) forests. The fast-growing MAPbBr3 single crystals engulfed the protogenetic inclusions in the form of individual CNTs, thus resulting in a three-dimensionally enlarged photosensitive interface. Photodetector devices were obtained, detecting low light intensities (~20 nW) from UV range to 550 nm. Moreover, a photocurrent was recorded at zero external bias voltage which points to the plausible formation of a p-n junction resulting from interpenetration of MAPbBr3 single crystals into the VACNT forest. This reveals that vertically aligned CNTs can be used as electrodes in operationally stable perovskite-based optoelectronic devices and can serve as a versatile platform for future selective electrode development.

Hybrid assemblies based on conducting polymers and carbon nanomaterials with organized nanoscale structure are excellent candidates for various application schemes ranging from thermal management to electrochemical energy conversion and storage. In the case of macroscopic samples, however, precise control of the nanoscale structure has remained a major challenge to be solved for the scientific community. In this study we demonstrate possible routes to homogeneously infiltrate poly(3hexylthiophene), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), and polyaniline into macroscopic arrays of vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTAs). Electron microscopic images and Raman spectroscopic analysis (performed along the longitudinal dimension of the hybrid samples) both confirmed that optimization of the electropolymerization circumstances allowed fine tuning of the hybrid structure towards the targeted application. In this vein, three different application avenues were tested. The remarkable anisotropy in both the electrical and thermal conductivity of the nanocomposites makes them eminently attractive candidates to be deployed in thermal management. Thermoelectric studies, aimed to understand the effect of organized nanoscale morphology on the important parameters (Seebeck coefficient, electrical-, and thermal conductivity) compared to their non-organized hybrid counterparts. Finally, extraordinary high charge storage capacity values were registered for the MWCNTA/ PANI hybrids (500 F g 21 and 1-3 F cm 22 ). V C 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015, 53, 1507-1518

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