Resistance of composite films based on polystyrene and graphene oxide

Abstract

Polystyrene films prepared by radical polymerization can conduct electric current in metal-polymer-metal structures with film thicknesses of up to 20 nanometers. Films of polystyrene and graphene oxide composite with thickness up to 3 micrometers, synthesized in similar conditions have the same electric properties. This effect is explained by presence of highly conductive graphene oxide inclusions in the dielectric polystyrene matrix.

Correlation between structure and resistance of composites based on polystyrene and multilayered graphene oxide

“…1). Surface modification of the GF was carried out by treating 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TMPMA) for subsequent reaction with styrene [5,19]. Polystyrene and polymer-GF composites ((PS/TMPMA/GF) syn and (PS/GF) syn ) were synthesized by free radical polymerization in solution [5].…”

The influence of substrate material on the resistance of composite films based on reduced graphene oxide and polystyrene

“…In addition to the semiconductor values of conductivity that are typical for RGO at room temperature, the metallic type of conductivity is observed in composites with decreasing temperature to that of liquid nitrogen [13], as well as superconducting properties when their thickness is about 150 nm [15,16]. This unusual character for the temperature dependences of resistance requires theoretical explanations.…”

“…After series of chemical reactions in liquid medium, prepared RGO was extracted from an aqueous suspension by drying at room temperature in air. Synthetic details were described previously [13,14]. Surface modification of RGO by 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate was carried out using the method presented in our previous work [11].…”

“…At the same time, there are articles where very small amounts of graphene (0.01 wt.%) contribute to the appearance of high conductivity [13,14] and even superconductivity [15,16]. In our case, the object of study is the composites demonstrating superconducting features based on polystyrene with RGO combining graphene fragments and oxidized groups.…”

“…The conductive atomic force microscopy (CAFM) method was used for detailed study of the conductivity of composite films on various substrates. Previously, it was shown by CAFM analysis of polystyrene/RGO thin films that high-conductivity regions exhibit ohmic current-voltage characteristics, starting with weak electric fields [13]. In addition, this method allowed that non-conducting regions to become conductive when a threshold pre-destructive electric field was reached.…”