Electromechanical Behavior of Axially Continuous Graphene-Copper Wires

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Graphene-copper (Gr-Cu) composites offer improved electrical and thermal properties.
• The electromechanical behavior of Gr-Cu composites, crucial for flexibility and robustness, is largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the electromechanical behavior of axially continuous graphene-copper (ACGC) wire.
• To evaluate the impact of mechanical strain on the electrical properties of ACGC wires.

Main Methods:

• Development and utilization of a customized tensile testing method.
• Experimental investigation of 80 μm-diameter ACGC wires under uniaxial tension.

Main Results:

• ACGC wires exhibited 3.681% and 3.173% higher conductivity than as-received and annealed copper wires, respectively.
• ACGC wires maintained enhanced electrical performance even after significant plastic deformation (3, 6, and 9% strain).
• Analysis revealed localized plastic deformation zones, with graphene acting as an effective electron pathway due to limited damage.

Conclusions:

• ACGC80 demonstrates superior and strain-tolerant electrical properties compared to pure copper.
• The localized deformation mechanism preserves graphene's conductive role, enabling sustained performance.
• ACGC conductors hold significant potential for flexible interconnects, wearable electronics, and microchip power transmission.