Rubber band/graphene (RBG) nanocomposites are formed by infusing graphene nanosheet into a rubber band (RB) and subsequently evaporating the solvent. The RB was first pretreated by soaking in toluene solvent in a mild sonication for 3 h before the swollen RB was immersed in graphene dispersion for different time periods of 12 and 20 h. Employing this technique, graphene nanosheets will be attached in the RB matrix to increase the mechanical properties of these nanocomposites. The peaks shifting of RBG composites noted from Fourier‐transform infrared and Raman analyses due to the stress transfer that indicates reinforcement of the graphene nanosheet. Also, dynamic mechanical testing is most useful for studying the viscoelastic behavior of the nanocomposites, which exhibits increasing storage modulus in the following order, RB < RBG‐12h < RBG‐20h and higher shifting of tan δ peak temperature for RBG‐12h and RBG‐20h. The main factor is due to the introduction of graphene content in the RB matrix. The improvement of RB/graphene composite in terms of their mechanical, electrical, and structural properties demonstrated promising candidates for low heat build‐up materials, improved wear resistance and thermal stability, increase significant gas impermeability, and electricity conductivity.
Organic semiconductor-based solar photovoltaic cells and sensors are scalable, printable, solution processable, bendable and light-weight. Furthermore, organic semiconductors require low energy fabrication process, hence can be fabricated at low cost as light-weight solar cells and sensors, coupled with the ease of processing, as well as compatibility, with flexible substrates. Organic semiconductors have been identified as a fascinating class of novel semiconductors that have the electrical and optical properties of metals and semiconductors. The continuous demand to improve the properties of organic semiconductors raises the quest for a deep understanding of fundamental issues and relevant electronic processes. Organic semiconductor thin film is sandwiched between two metal electrodes of indium tin oxide (ITO) and aluminum to form organic photovoltaic solar cell. Several types of organic semiconductors have been utilized as the photoactive layer in the solution processable organic solar cells. The performance of the fabricated solar cells can be improved by dissolving the material in the right choice of solvent, annealing of organic thin film, slowly forming the thin film and introducing an infra-red absorbance layer. Besides, organic semiconductor-based sensors can be fabricated utilizing either in a sandwidch type or planar type device. Some of these techniques and the experimental results are presented.
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