Systems and methods for growth of nanostructures on substrates, including substrates comprising fibers

1. A method of growing carbon-based nanostructures, comprising:

exposing a carbon-based nanostructure precursor to a nanopositor under conditions causing the formation of carbon-based nanostructures on the nanopositor, wherein the nanopositor is associated with an intermediate material that is non-covalently associated with a carbon fiber, wherein:

the intermediate material is positioned between the carbon fiber and the nanopositor,

the intermediate material covers at least a portion of an exposed surface of the carbon fiber, and

the intermediate material comprises a polymer.

2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the nanopositor is in direct contact with the intermediate material.

3. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the intermediate material comprises a functional group capable of participating in a pi-pi interaction with the carbon fiber.

4. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the intermediate material comprises an aromatic group.

5. A method as in claim 4 , wherein the intermediate material comprises a phenyl group.

6. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the intermediate material comprises poly(styrene-alt-[maleic acid]).

7. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the intermediate material is present as a coating over the carbon fiber.

8. A method as in claim 7 , wherein the intermediate material is present as a substantially conformal coating over the carbon fiber.

9. A method as in claim 7 , wherein the intermediate material is present as a surface layer over the carbon fiber.

10. A method as in claim 7 , wherein the intermediate material is present as a monolayer over the carbon fiber.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate material comprises a polyelectrolyte polymer.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbon-based nanostructures comprise carbon nanotubes, carbon nanowires, carbon nanofibers, carbon nanoshells, graphene, and/or fullerenes.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbon-based nanostructures comprise carbon nanotubes.

14. A method of growing carbon-based nanostructures, comprising:

exposing a carbon-based nanostructure precursor to a nanopositor under conditions causing the formation of carbon-based nanostructures on the nanopositor,

wherein:

the nanopositor is positioned over an intermediate material that is positioned over a carbon fiber,

the intermediate material comprises a polymer, and

the tensile strength of the carbon fiber, after growth of the carbon-based nanostructures, is reduced by less than about 20% relative to the tensile strength of the carbon fiber prior to growth of the nanostructures.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the tensile strength of the carbon fiber, after growth of the carbon-based nanostructures, is reduced by less than about 5% relative to the tensile strength of the carbon fiber prior to growth of the nanostructures.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the tensile strength of the carbon fiber, after growth of the carbon-based nanostructures, is reduced by less than about 1% relative to the tensile strength of the carbon fiber prior to growth of the nanostructures.

17. The method of claim 14 , comprising:

thermally processing the carbon fiber in the presence of a reducing agent at a first temperature, and

forming the carbon-based nanostructures via chemical vapor deposition at a second temperature that is below the first temperature.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the second temperature is below about 600° C.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the intermediate material comprises a polyelectrolyte polymer.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the carbon-based nanostructures comprise carbon nanotubes, carbon nanowires, carbon nanofibers, carbon nanoshells, graphene, and/or fullerenes.

21. The method of claim 14 , wherein the carbon-based nanostructures comprise carbon nanotubes.