Polypyrrole/graphene nanocomposite: High conductivity and low percolation threshold

• Graphene nanosheets (GNSs) were synthesized via a mild and safer chemical route.
• Polypyrrole was coated on GNSs via the in situ chemical oxidative polymerization.
• This study is aimed at achieving a high conductivity and low percolation threshold of PPy/GNSs nanocomposite.

A facile approach was used to prepare polypyrrole/graphene nanosheets (PPy/GNSs) nanocomposites via the in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole onto the surfaces of the GNSs modified with sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) as surfactant for GNSs and dopant for PPy simultaneously. FE-SEM, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize their morphology and structure. High magnification SEM indicated that the PPy nanoparticles had been successfully deposited onto the GNSs surfaces. The results of Raman spectrum and FTIR revealed that the synthesized PPy/GNSs nanocomposites are in the doped state. The fabricated nanocomposites show excellent electrical properties, i.e. extremely low percolation threshold of 0.1 vol% and high saturated conductivity of 30 S/cm at GNS content of 3.2 vol%.

A facile approach was used to prepare polypyrrole/graphene nanosheets (PPy/GNSs) nanocomposites via the in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole onto the surfaces of the GNSs modified with sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) as surfactant for GNSs and dopant for PPy simultaneously.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide