Study of Polymer-Graphene Conducting Thin Films and Their Properties

Abstract

Polyaniline (PANI) is a polymer which can be doped by charge-transfer doping and protonation to make it conductive. Not only because of electrical properties but also because of good stability of PANI, it is potentially attractive as electronic material. It has been shown that that the addition of 3 parts polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) to 1-part polyaniline can drastically enhance the conductivity of the resulting blend. PVP can also be blended with every major and significant resin matrix system used in polymer composites, which can improve the through thickness electrical and thermal conductivities of the composite materials. On the other hand, high conductivity of graphene is well understood subject. In this present work, conductive composite thin films are prepared by dispersing the graphene in PVP solution and followed by in situ polymerization of PANI in acidic medium by oxidative method. The goal of this work is to synthesis high conductive composite thin flexible films which are highly demanding in defense and aerospace industries. The conductivity of thin composite films was measured with four probe method. FTIR spectrum analysis confirms the in situ polymerization of PANI: PVP blend without losing the conductive properties of both PANI: PVP blend and graphene nanoplatelets. The Dynamic Mechanical Analysis shows the increase in yield strength and decrease in % strain of composite thin films with increase in percentage of Graphene. The Thermogravimetric Analysis shows increase in thermal stability with addition of graphene in the composite films.