TAGRA 2025

This keynote presents a 10 year journey into graphenated carbon nanotubes (g-CNT), an advanced hybrid carbon architecture where graphene foliates emerge directly from the walls of carbon nanotubes to form an ultra-light and highly conductive three-dimensional aerogel. The talk invites the audience to explore how this unique structure evolved from fundamental discovery into a platform material for next generation energy and electronic systems. The keynote begins with the scientific motivation behind hybrid carbon design. It highlights the performance limits of graphene and carbon nanotubes when they are used on their own, including restacking, low interfacial activity, restricted charge transport pathways, and limited mechanical anchoring. These gaps form the basis for the development of a new architecture that integrates one dimensional conduction, two-dimensional surface interaction, and three-dimensional porosity. The talk then traces the experimental milestones from the first cotton like g-CNT aerogel produced using FCCVD to the introduction of sustainable precursors, morphology tuning, and refinement of the unzipping and regrowth mechanism. This foundation enables a deeper understanding of conductivity, surface polarization, ion transport, and mechanical behaviour. The application segment showcases how g-CNT transitions from a laboratory curiosity to a functional material. Case studies include platinum free counter electrodes for dye sensitized solar cells, conductivity enhanced TiO₂ photoanodes, flexible supercapacitors built on MoS₂ and WS₂ nanowalls, and emerging opportunities in electromagnetic interference shielding for the 5G ecosystem. Each example highlights how the hierarchical carbon network improves device performance, stability, and scalability. The keynote concludes with a forward-looking perspective on hybrid carbon systems. It outlines a vision where architectured carbon materials can be tailored for specific functions, integrated into industrial composites, and paired with future two dimensional materials. The journey of g-CNT represents an early and significant step toward this future.