Anodic Oxidation Shock Volumetric Expansion of Carbon Nanotube in Composite with Graphene and Reinforced Copper

A novel method combining anodic oxidation shock and electrodeposition, followed by annealing and rolling, was developed for fabricating dual-continuous carbon nanotube/Cu (CNT/Cu) composites. The anodic oxidation shock treatment induced significant volumetric expansion of CNT films (from 10 μm to ∼4 mm), enlarging interstitial gaps to facilitate Cu2+ infiltration during electrodeposition. Simultaneously, this treatment increased surface oxygen content, enhanced hydrophilicity, removed residual Fe catalysts and amorphous carbon, introduced oxygen-containing functional groups, and strengthened Cu-CNT interfacial bonding via electrostatic interactions. Optimization of electrodeposition parameters revealed that a current density of 0.5 A·cm–2 achieved the highest Cu content within the CNT network, while an electroplating time of 60 min ensured complete coverage of the CNT film by Cu, reducing the sheet resistance to near-pure Cu levels. Post-treatment further improved the composite density to 96.4% and formed a dual-continuous structure, where both Cu and CNTs maintained continuous networks. The resulting composites exhibit excellent interfacial bonding and structural integrity, making them promising for applications in the electronic and thermal management fields.