Percolation-Regime Modulation of Charge Transport and Humidity-Driven Conductivity in 3 wt.% Graphene...

This study investigates graphene oxide/carboxymethyl cellulose composite membranes containing 3 wt.% graphene oxide. The influence of the carboxymethyl cellulose content on the structural organization, mechanical properties, electrical resistivity, and humidity-dependent conductivity was systematically analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, tensile testing, and electrical measurements. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated intermolecular interactions between graphene oxide and carboxymethyl cellulose functional groups. X-ray diffraction analysis showed gradual inter-layer expansion from 0.71 to 0.87 nm together with crystallite size reduction after polymer incorporation. Scanning electron microscopy observations demonstrated the increasing structural uniformity and polymer encapsulation of graphene oxide sheets with the increasing carboxymethyl cellulose content. Mechanical testing revealed improvement in the tensile strength from 6.6 to 17.8 MPa with the increasing carboxymethyl cellulose concentration. Simultaneously, the dry-state electrical resistivity increased from 5.8 × 10⁶ to 2.32 × 10⁷ Ω·m due to increasing dielectric separation between graphene oxide domains. Humidity-sensing experiments demonstrated reversible resistance changes in the 20-90% relative humidity range, associated with proton-assisted conduction through adsorbed water layers. The obtained results demonstrate that polymer incorporation strongly influences both the structural organization and electrophysical behavior of graphene oxide/carboxymethyl cellulose composite membranes.