Characterization and electrical properties of honeycomb-patterned poly(e-caprolactone)/reduced graphene oxide composite film

A novel biocompatible composite of poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) was synthesized via in situ ring-opening polymerization method of e-caprolactone in the presence of reduced graphene oxide (RGO). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies support a strong interaction between PCL and RGO. The crystallization behavior and thermal stability of these composites were studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. Honeycomb-patterned thin films with regular structures were fabricated by casting the composite solution under humid conditions. The temperature-dependent DC conductivity of the honeycomb-patterned composite films was studied in the range of 290-330 K, which revealed a semiconducting behavior in the transport properties of the composite films. DC conductivity of the patterned films was increased by increasing the concentration of RGO in the composites and in the increased temperature. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. (C) 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers