Graphene Platelets and Their Polymer Composites: Fabrication, Structure, Properties, and Applications

Ge Shi, Sherif Araby, Christopher Gibson, Qingshi Meng, Shenmin Zhu, Jun Ma

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

224 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Graphene oxide is extensively compounded with polymers toward a wide variety of applications. Less studied are few-layer or multi-layer highly crystalline graphene, both of which are herein named as graphene platelets. This article aims to provide the most recent advancements of graphene platelets and their polymer composites. A first focus lies on cost-effective fabrication strategies of graphene platelets – intercalation and exfoliation – which work in a relative mass scale, e.g., 5.3 g h −1 . As no heavy oxidization is involved, the platelets have high crystalline integrity, e.g., C:O ratio over 8.0, with thicknesses 2–4 nm and lateral dimension up to a few micrometers. Through carefully selecting the solvent for dispersion and the molecules for surface modification, graphene platelets can be liquid-processable, enabling them to be printed, coated, or compounded with various polymers. A purpose-designed experiment is undertaken to unravel the effect of reasonable ultrasonication time on the platelet thickness. Typical polymer/graphene platelet composites are critically examined for their preparation, structure, and applications such as thermal management and flexible/stretchable electronic devices. Perspectives on the limitations, current challenges, and future prospects for graphene platelets and their polymer composites are provided.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1706705
JournalAdvanced Functional Materials
Volume28
Issue number19
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 9 May 2018

Keywords

  • dispersion
  • exfoliation
  • graphene
  • intercalation
  • polymer composites

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Graphene Platelets and Their Polymer Composites: Fabrication, Structure, Properties, and Applications'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this