Carbon nanopeapod encapsulating fullerene and inorganic nanoparticle toward polymeric nanocomposite: tailored features and promises

Carbon nanotube (one-dimensional) and fullerene (two-dimensional) nanocarbon nanostructures have been extensively adopted for polymeric nanocomposites. Recently, unique nanopeapod like carbon nanotube (carbon nanopeapod) has been observed encapsulating the fullerene molecules. Some polymers may also encapsulate in hollow carbon nanotube and form nanopeapod like nanostructures. Moreover, carbon nanopeapod has also found to capture inorganic nanoparticles (metal/metal oxide/inorganic nanoparticle). Carbon nanopeapod has been considered as unique additive for polymeric nanocomposite. This review principally highlights fundamentals and essential features of novel carbon nanopeapod derived nanocomposites. Applications of polymer and carbon nanopeapod derived nanomaterials have been observed for photoelectrochemical/optoelectronic devices, solar cell, and batteries.