Enhancement of Dielectric Constant of Graphene–Epoxy Composite by Inclusion of Nanodiamond Particles

Abstract

The dielectric properties of a graphene–epoxy composite have been enhanced by filling with nanodiamond particles (NDPs) as secondary filler along with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). The epoxy composite filled with only NDPs or GNPs to 0.1 wt.%, 0.3 wt.%, and 0.5 wt.% exhibited smaller dielectric constant compared with when filled with both. Hybrid epoxy composites were prepared with inclusion of both fillers to 0.05 + 0.05 = 0.1 wt.%, 0.15 + 0.15 = 0.3 wt.%, and 0.25 + 0.25 = 0.5 wt.%. Inclusion of NDPs in addition to GNPs also improved the dispersion of the latter in solution, which is attributable␣to kinetic energy transfer to GNPs and screening of van der Waals forces between GNPs. The enhanced dielectric constant after inclusion of NDPs is due to improved dispersion of GNPs in the epoxy matrix, which may increase the interfacial polarization.