Study on 3-D High Conductive Graphene Buckypaper for Electrical Actuation of Shape Memory Polymer

In order to improve the through-thickness conductivity of few-layer graphene (FLG) in buckypaper, a unique synergistic effect of FLG and carbon nanofiber (CNF) was explored for the buckypaper enabled shape-memory polymer (SMP) composite. In the FLG/CNF buckypaper, FLGs were used to significantly improve the electrical conductivity in the basal plane, as well as CNFs were expected to bridge the gaps among FLGs and improve the through-thickness electrical conductivity. Therefore, an entangled and continuous network of FLG and CNF was expected to synergistically enhance electrical performance of buckypaper. Furthermore, the ratio between FLG and CNF in the buckypaper was varied to characterize the efficiency for the electrical conductivity. Finally, the electrical actuation and optimization of temperature distribution of SMP composite have been experimentally testified by coating with the FLG/CNF buckypaper.