Laser-Induced 3D Graphene Enabled Polymer Composites with Improved Mechanical and Electrical Properties Toward...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Graphene-based composites offer excellent electrical and mechanical properties for electronics.
• Traditional fabrication methods for 3D graphene foams face challenges with graphene dispersion.
• 3D printing offers a novel approach for creating complex 3D graphene structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To utilize 3D printing with laser-induced graphene (LIG) for fabricating conductive polymer composites.
• To investigate the synergistic integration of LIG and epoxy for enhanced material properties.
• To explore potential applications of these novel composites in de-icing, microwave absorption, and flexible sensors.

Main Methods:

• Employing a 3D printing technique driven by laser-induced graphene (LIG).
• Utilizing a conventional penetration process for assembling graphene-based conductive polymer composites.
• Characterizing the electrical conductivity, tensile strength, specific strength, ductility, and linear elastic strain of the 3D-LIG/epoxy composites.

Main Results:

• Achieved an electrical conductivity of 3.54 S m⁻¹ in the through-plane direction.
• Obtained a tensile strength of approximately 5.4 MPa, representing a 7606% improvement.
• Demonstrated high specific strength (6.8 × 10³ (N m) kg⁻¹), outstanding ductility (230% tensile-failure strain), and high linear elastic strain (50%).

Conclusions:

• The 3D-LIG/epoxy composites exhibit superior electrical and mechanical properties through synergistic integration.
• The developed 3D printing method overcomes limitations of traditional graphene foam fabrication.
• These functionalized composites show promise for diverse applications including de-icing, microwave absorption, and flexible sensors.