Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane modified carbon nanotube hybrid material with a bump structure via polydopamine transition layer

• A novel 3D nanomaterial (MWCNT-PDA-POSS) with bump structure was synthesized.
• Polydopamine transition layer was introduced as second modification platform.
• The bump structure significantly improved the compressive performance of epoxy resin composites.

A novel 3D nanomaterial (MWCNT-PDA-POSS) with bump structure was prepared by combining multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) via mussel-inspired chemistry. A two-step process was used for preparation of MWCNT-PDA-POSS, and the potential chemical reaction between carboxyl-functionalized MWCNT (MWCNT-COOH), polydopamine (PDA) and amino-functionalized POSS (POSS-NH2) was investigated. Furthermore, the unique bump structure of the MWCNT-PDA-POSS was observed. As nanofillers in the resin matrix, the bump structure can provide higher specific surface area while some unreacted catechol functional groups of PDA would participate in the cross-linking reaction of epoxy resin, leading to the interface strengthening between the MWCNTs and resin matrix. Therefore, the MWCNT-PDA-POSS resulted in the significantly improved compressive performances compared to the neat epoxy, and POSS-NH2 and MWCNT-COOH reinforced ones, which exhibited potential application in the multi-scale reinforced composites.

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