Durable, highly sensitive conductive elastomeric nanocomposite films containing various graphene nanoplatelets and their derivatives

In recent years, the use of nano-fillers in flexible polymer matrix to prepare highly flexible, stretchable, and multifunctional product has been widely studied. However, the uneven dispersion of nano-fillers in polymer matrix is an important factor hindering their performance. In this study, a method to prepare graphene nanosheets by ball milling and modification with the silane coupling agent APTES is reported, and this method can reduce the thickness of the nanosheets, improving the dispersion effect and compatibility of the nanosheets in the PDMS matrix. The mechanical and conductive properties of the prepared composite films were further analyzed. The morphology showed that our modified graphene (MGE and BMGE) are more evenly dispersed in the PDMS matrix compared to the unmodified graphene (GNP). The MGE/PDMS composite film has significantly improved electrical conductivity. It has a wide sensing range (up to 48%), high sensitivity (GF of 152 in the 20%-40% strain range) and reliable cycle repeatability (> 10,000 cycles) with a response time of 0.12 s. The results show that the modified graphene/PDMS conductive elastic nanocomposite film is an ideal material for making flexible electronic products.

Automated summary

This study reports a method to prepare graphene nanosheets by ball milling and modification with APTES, which can reduce the thickness of the nanosheets and improve their dispersion and compatibility in the PDMS matrix. The resulting MGE/PDMS composite film shows significantly improved electrical conductivity, making it an ideal material for flexible electronic products.