Building a Layer-Structured Aluminum/Graphene Composite with Significant Improvement in Electrical Conductivity.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• Aluminum (Al) and its alloys are crucial in various applications due to their physical properties.
• Fabricating Al-based composites often leads to a detrimental decrease in electrical conductivity.
• There is a need for Al-based materials that balance conductivity and mechanical integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and fabricate a novel layer-structured Al/graphene (Gr)/Al composite.
• To enhance the electrical conductivity of aluminum composites without compromising mechanical properties.
• To provide a new fabrication strategy for highly conductive Al-based materials.

Main Methods:

• Utilized ultrasonic spraying of graphene powder with alumina removal.
• Employed a subsequent vacuum hot-pressing process for composite fabrication.
• Characterized the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of the resulting Al/Gr/Al composite.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated a layer-structured Al/Gr/Al composite.
• Achieved a significantly enhanced electrical conductivity of 66% IACS.
• Maintained comparable mechanical properties to conventional aluminum alloys.

Conclusions:

• The developed Al/Gr/Al composite offers a breakthrough in electrical conductivity for aluminum-based materials.
• The facile fabrication method provides a viable strategy for producing high-performance conductive composites.
• This research holds significant potential for practical applications requiring superior electrical and mechanical performance.