Recent progress on carbon-based composites in multidimensional applications

In recent years, carbon materials reinforced composites have aroused widespread interests owing to their remarkable physicochemical performances and important biological potentials. But, their enhanced applications in multidimensional fields of mechanics, thermology, electricity, tribology and the biomedicine are rarely reported. Systematacially, this review discusses typical micro/nano-structures, main properties and multidimensional applications from carbon nanotubes and graphite to fullerenes, subsequently to graphene and nanodiamonds, next to carbon fibers, finally to the amorphous carbons. After introduction of micro/nano-structures and absorbing properties of carbon materials, which are subsequently analyzed in the multi-scaled mechanics. Afterward, important discussions on thermal enhancements and electrical contributions of carbon materials are respectively reported in Sections 3 and 4. Subsequently, their mechanisms for achieving friction-reduction and antiwear are summarized. Advanced progress of biomedical adhibition of carbon material is further elaborated. Finally, this review is concluded with the outlooks on crucial challenge and future opportunity for widening multidimensional applications.