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The orientation and arrangement engineering of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in composite structures is considered a challenging issue. In this regard, two groups of in situ and ex situ techniques have been developed. In the first, the arrangement is achieved during CNT growth, while in the latter, the CNTs are initially grown in random orientation and the arrangement is then achieved during the device integration process. As the ex situ techniques are free from growth restrictions and more flexible in terms of controlling the alignment and sorting of the CNTs, they are considered by some as the preferred technique for engineering of oriented CNTs. This review focuses on recent progress in the improvement of the orientation and alignment of CNTs in composite materials. Moreover, the advantages and disadvantages of the processes are discussed as well as their future outlook.

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In the present work, carbon nanotubes (CNT)/alginate composite adsorbent was prepared using combined method of magnetic field/electrospray. The effects of magnetic and electric fields on CNT orientation in the polymeric matrix of adsorbent, and consequently on the methylene blue adsorption were investigated. The adsorbents characteristics and adsorption performance of the six types samples were obtained using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, respectively. The FE-SEM image observations indicated that under the setup’s operating condition, the magnetic field could partially orient the CNTs in the polymer matrix while the electrical field had a little effect. The obtained results clearly represented the positive effects of CNT orientation on enhancing the adsorption of methylene blue into the CNT/alginate composite adsorbents. The egg-box model in the CNT/alginate core-shell type beads could explain the adsorption performance of methylene blue solution onto the six types fabricated beads.