Electrical Conductivity of Graphene-Polymer Composite Foam

Graphene-polymer composites have potential applications in energy storage, oil absorption, and sensing. Here, we focus on dependence of the electrical conductivity of the composite graphene-polymer foams as a function of their composition and deformation. Using a combination of the coarse-grained simulations and analytical calculations we developed a bottom-up approach which allows us to express the macroscopic sample conductivity in terms of conductivity of the graphene layers coating the foam’s shells. In particular, we propose a close packing shell model to describe the conductivity of the graphene shells with multiple contact points. This shell conductivity model is used to calculate the change in foam conductivity upon deformation which could be induced either by solvent absorption or by external foam compression/elongation. The model predictions are compared with the experimental data on conductivity of composite poly(butyl acrylate)/graphene foams.