Markets continuously search for stronger, more durable, lightweight, conductive, and cost-effective composites for various applications and industries. CNTs can enormously improve the properties of many materials, including polymer composites. CNTs, both single-walled (SWCNT – a nanotube that is made from a single rolled graphene sheet) and multi-walled (MWCNTs – a nanotube that is made from several rolled graphene sheets) become readily available and inexpensive due to recent large-scale production. However, CNTs have a high tendency for bundling, which impedes their dispersion in liquid (solvents) and solid (polymer) media. This issue is a central challenge as it limits the ability to fabricate materials with improved properties conveniently and cost-efficiently. Therefore, there is a need for a novel method to effectively disperse CNTs for the efficient fabrication of novel CNT/Polymer composites.

Non-covalent molecular attachment to CNTs has become a preferred approach for overcoming the dominant tendency of CNTs to aggregate since it does not harm the mechanical and electrical properties of CNTs, and it alleviates the need for additional regulations. The current technology utilizes physical interactions between small dye molecules to enhance the dispersibility of CNTs while maintaining their electrical properties and mechanical integrity. These novel dispersions enable an efficient CNT incorporation into polymer-based composites using several processing methods, including coating, filtration, casting, molding, extrusion, and injection. The aromatic compounds within the hybrids modify the surface energy of the adsorbing nanotubes for improved solution dispersibility and adhesion.