Aligned carbon nanotube/silicon carbide hybrid materials with high electrical conductivity, superhydrophobicity and superoleophilicity

Silicon carbide (SiC) cellular ceramic skeletons based on ceramic pillars of ∼250 μm in diameter and porous micro-channels of ∼700 μm were used as support to grow long and aligned crystalline carboxyl functionalized carbon nanotubes (COx) by floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition. The resulting hybrid COx/SiC material retained water and allowed the flow of oils and gasoline through the specimen, showing, thus, superhydrophobic and superoleophilic properties. In addition, the developed hybrid material exhibited high electrical conductivity with a good ohmic contact at the COx–SiC interface.