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Fabrication of electrically conductive graphene/polystyrene composites via a combination of latex and layer-by-layer assembly approaches

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2013

Wei Fan ,
Chao Zhang ,
Weng Weei Tjiu  and
Tianxi Liu
Wei Fan
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People’s Republic of China
Chao Zhang
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People’s Republic of China
Weng Weei Tjiu
Affiliation:
Department of Synthesis and Integration, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore 117602
Tianxi Liu*
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People’s Republic of China
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: txliu@fudan.edu.cn
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Abstract

Due to its excellent physical properties, graphene acting as reinforcing fillers has attracted intense interests. To achieve a controlled distribution, the formation of a conductive network composed of graphene sheets within polymer matrix is of critical importance. In this work, polystyrene (PS) microspheres wrapped by graphene oxide (GO) sheets were prepared via layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of oppositely charged GO sheets onto PS microspheres. The deposited GO was then reduced, and the composite films with a graphene conductive network were prepared by hot pressing. The morphology of graphene conductive network was studied, and the thermal and electrical properties of the composite films were measured. The as-prepared composites showed an improved thermal stability as well as electrical conductivity with a percolation threshold as low as 0.2 vol%. The combination of latex technology and LBL self-assembly method thus demonstrated an efficient and facile approach to fabricate electrically conductive graphene/polymer composites.

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Type
Articles
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Journal of Materials Research , Volume 28 , Issue 4 , 28 February 2013 , pp. 611 - 619
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2013

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