Carbon fiber and carbon fiber composites—creating defects for superior material properties

Abstract Recent years have seen a rise in the use of carbon fiber (CF) and its composite applications in several high-tech industries, such as the design of biomedical sensor components, 3D virtual process networks in automotive and aerospace parts, and artificial materials or electrodes for energy storage batteries. Since pristine CF have limited properties, their properties are often modified through a range of technologies, such as laser surface treatment, electron-beam irradiation grafting, plasma or chemical treatments, electrophoretic deposition, carbonization, spinning-solution or melt, electrospinning, and sol–gel, to greatly improve their properties and performance. These procedures cause faulty structures to emerge in CF. The characteristics and performances of CF (thermo-electric conductivity, resistivity, stress tolerance, stiffness and elasticity, chemical resistivity, functionality, electrochemical properties, etc.) vary greatly depending on the modification technique used. Thus, the purpose of this review is to demonstrate how the insertion of faults can result in the production of superior CF. The characteristics of CF defects were examined using a variety of analytical techniques, such as defect-forming chemistry, molecular organization, and ground-level chemistries like their crystallinities. Finally, some future work is also included. Graphical abstract