Electrically conducting, transparent, graphene based nanocomposite coatings on flexible film substrate

Abstract

Transparent, electrically conducting nanocomposite coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films are prepared using two types of bulk synthesized few layered graphene; namely reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and liquid exfoliated graphite (EG) dispersed in ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). This study focuses on application of high concentration of such nanofillers (1: 1 to 2.5: 1 ratios with polymer) in order to develop a highly conducting but ultrathin coating for better transparency. The coated PET films are characterized for their surface morphology, electrical and optical properties. High resolution transmission electron microscopic (HRTEM) images and corresponding selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns confirm that the graphite has been exfoliated to few layer graphene using both the synthesis routes. Transmittance values of these coated films are measured in UV visible spectrum. The rGO based samples have high transmittance (~90–95%) compared to EG based samples (~40–50%). From current-voltage (I‒V) graph and surface resistivity studies, it has been observed that rGO based samples are dielectric in nature similar to UHMWPE while EG based samples are electrically conducting and its conductivity increases with its concentration. EG based nanocomposite coated samples show much better electrical conductivities (resistance 338 to 66 kΩ at different concentrations of EG) than rGO based samples.