The synthesis and electrical conductivity of a polyacrylate/graphite hydrogel

A polyacrylate/graphite composite was synthesized by aqueous solution polymerization. Based on the electrical conductivity of graphite and the water absorbency of polyacrylate, a novel conductive hydrogel with a conductivity of 7.3 mS m−1 was prepared. The influence of crosslinker, initiator, monomer, neutralization degree, graphite, water absorbency and temperature on the electrical conductivity of the hydrogel was investigated. An appended network structure model of the polyacrylate/graphite conductive hydrogel is proposed.