Formation Of Conductive Network Research Articles

Structural, Dielectric, and Impedance Spectroscopic studies of (Zn0.4Mn0.4Ni0.2Ce0.2Fe1.8O4)1-x/(MWCNTs)x Nanocomposites for Future Energy Storage Applications

The novel Zn0.4Mn0.4Ni0.2Ce0.2Fe1.8O4 (ZMNCF) nanoparticles were first produced using the sol-gel auto-combustion method and then dispersed onto the surface of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with the aid of ultra-sonication and a series of different concentration of (ZMNCF)1-x/(MWCNTs)x; x = 0 – 20 wt. % nanocomposites were created. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the Fd-3m space group and spinel structure of synthesized nanoparticles and revealed that the increasing concentration of MWCNTs has a great influence on the structural properties of the spinel ferrites. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to study the distribution, size and symmetry of nanoparticles and the accumulation of ZMNCF nanoparticles on the outer surfaces of MWCNTs. The estimation of different vibrational bands was examined using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The dielectric and impedance measurements were studied in the frequency spectrum of 25 Hz to 2 MHz at room temperature. A detailed study of polarization mechanisms, Maxwell-Wagner model, and Koop’s theory and the effect of increasing concentration of MWCNTs on grain and grain boundaries have been discussed. The AC conductivity measurements conducted on the synthesized nanoparticles demonstrated an enhancement in conductivity upon the addition of MWCNTs. The percolation threshold for the nanocomposite was found to be between 10 and 15 wt. %, corresponding to a significant increase in conductivity due to the formation of a continuous conductive network. The valuable responses in dielectric properties showed that the synthesized nanocomposites could be used in future energy storage devices.

Hierarchically structured composite with 3D interlocking architecture for multi-band defense

The development of high-performance electromagnetic wave absorbing (EMWA) materials for radar stealth applications poses a persistent challenge, particularly when addressing the demanding requirements of diverse frequency bands in increasingly complex and dynamic environments. Precisely tailoring the microstructure of these materials presents a powerful strategy for achieving multifunctional integration and unlocking new possibilities for practical applications. In this work, we present a novel hierarchically structured composite foam with 3D interlocking architecture, fabricated through a straightforward foaming and calcination process. It features a unique dual three-dimensional continuous phase structure that facilitates the formation of an efficient conductive network, promoting free electron mobility and enhancing polarization loss. The composite demonstrates exceptional EMWA performance, exhibiting a wide effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 6.1 GHz and a remarkable absorption intensity of -63.2 dB along with RCS reduction value up to 28.7 dB m2. Furthermore, the composite illustrated strong infrared stealth properties and efficient photothermal conversion abilities. When heated to 56°C, its surface temperature only increased by 4°C in 10 minutes. Under direct sunlight, its surface temperature rose from 21°C to 71°C in just 6 minutes. Lightweight, flexible, and adaptable to diverse environmental conditions, the HCC composite holds significant promise as a multi-spectrum defense material. Its versatility makes it an ideal candidate for integration into a wide range of equipment, clothing, and wearable technologies, offering advanced capabilities for radar, infrared, and visible light signature reduction.

Supercritical N2 induced sandwich type lightweight and strong PP/CF foams with excellent electromagnetic shielding properties

The tremendous advances in communication technology and the explosion of electronic products led to an intensification of electromagnetic pollution, yet the efficient development of lightweight, high-strength fiber composite foams with excellent electromagnetic shielding properties was still a great challenge. Herein, this study, inspired by the sandwich structure, proposes a green foaming method with supercritical N2 to prepare a multilayered structure of carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP/CF) foams, with a dense cellular structure in the core layer and a solid layer in the surface layer. The incorporation of CF improves the crystallization and rheological behavior of PP/CF, which guarantees a fine, dense and uniform cellular structure. This inner fine cellular structure and the solid layer on the surface contribute to the excellent mechanical properties. PP/30 %CF foam with a 1 mm mold opening distance displays an enhancement of 189.9 % in tensile strength and 196.3 % in flexural strength compared to pure PP. This also indicates more lightweight, high-strength and high-rigidity microcellular parts was obtained with less raw materials. Moreover, the formation of CF conductive network and internal foam structure contribute to excellent electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance. The PP/CF composite foams maintain a level of EMI shielding performance greater than 30 dB despite the higher mold opening distance. Specifically, the PP/30 %CF foams at opening distance of 5 mm was enhanced to 58.3 dB·cm3/g with an improvement of 76.7 %. This implies that lightweight microcellular parts with both excellent strength and EMI shielding properties can be prepared, which enables PP/CF foams to possess a wide range of applications in various fields.

Continuous Phase Separation Induced Tough Hydrogel Fibers with Ultrahigh Conductivity for Multidimensional Soft Electronics

AbstractConductive hydrogel fibers exhibit great potential in soft robots, bioelectronics, and human–machine interfaces due to the unique combination of electrical conductivity, high water content, tissue‐like mechanical properties, and 1D structure. Despite significant advances in hydrogel technologies, the typical conductive hydrogel fibers show low conductivity (<10 S cm−1), weak mechanical properties, and water stability, which makes it challenging to satisfy the requirements of practical applications. Here, a facile strategy is proposed to construct hydrogel fibers with ultrahigh conductivity and toughness by exploiting the synergistic effects of freezing‐thawing, salting‐out, and drying‐annealing. The continuous phase separation induced by the combined processes results in hierarchical structures, promoting the formation of interconnected conductive networks and increasing the fiber's crystallinity and crystal domain size. The prepared conductive hydrogel fibers exhibited ultrahigh conductivity (≈958 S cm−1), excellent mechanical properties (strength (≈6.2 MPa), stretchability (>300%), and toughness (≈10 MJ m−2)), high water content (≈75%), outstanding water stability, and fatigue resistance properties. In addition, the processibility of conductive hydrogel yarns and fabrics are demonstrated and their potential application in bioelectronics. Overall, this work presents a preparation strategy for conductive hydrogel fibers, which will facilitate the advancement of soft electronics and may inspire structural construction in other polymers.

Hierarchical structure Fe@CNFs@Co/C elastic aerogels with intelligent electromagnetic wave absorption

AbstractDeveloping intelligent electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption materials with real‐time response‐ability is of great significance in complex application environments. Herein, highly compressible Fe@CNFs@Co/C elastic aerogels were assembled through the electrospinning method, achieving EMW absorption through pressure changes. By varying the pressure, the effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of Fe@CNFs@Co/C elastic aerogels shows continuous changes from low frequency to high frequency. The EAB of Fe@CNFs@Co/C elastic aerogels is 14.4 GHz (3.36–17.76 GHz), which covers 90% of the range of S/C/X/Ku bands. The theoretical simulation indicates that the external pressure prompts a reduction in the spacing between the fiber layers in the aerogels and facilitates the formation of a 3D conductive network with enhanced attenuation ability of EMW. The uniform distribution of metal particles and appropriate layer spacing can effectively optimize the impedance matching to achieve the best EMW absorption performance. This work state clearly that the hierarchically assembled elastic aerogels composed of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) derivatives and carbon fibers are ideal dynamic EMW absorption materials for intelligent EMW response.image

Insights into the ternary substitution Na2.96+xK0.04 V2-xNix(PO4)2.98F0.06 with superior rate capability and near-zero strain property

Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP) is considered the most favorable cathode for sodium-ion batteries due to its solid NASICON skeleton. Nevertheless, poor intrinsic conductivity is insufficient for its further commercialization. In this paper, we present a promising K/Ni/F co-doped and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) encapsulated Na2.96+xK0.04 V2-xNix(PO4)2.98F0.06 (KNF@CNTsx) cathode materials. The synthesis of KNF@CNTsx is achieved using a facile sol-gel method. The replacement of Na+ with K+ broadens the migratory pathway and supports the crystal skeleton, while F− substitution reduces the average grain dimension, thereby increasing the diffusion rate of Na+. Furthermore, the reduction of resistance by Ni2+ doping enables optimization of the transport of electrical charge, while also facilitating the optimization of chemically-defined properties. Concurrently, the optimal quantity of carbon capping and wrapping of CNTs facilitate the formation of efficacious conductive network, which diminishes the size of grains and shortens the pathway for the diffusion of Na+. This network could also serve as a buffer against crystal deformation. In conclusion, the modified KNF@CNTsx samples exhibit notable enhancements in their conductivity, ion diffusion capacity, and structural stability. Among them, the KNF@CNTs0.04 sample exhibits a capacity for reversibility of 93.3 mAh g−1 at 50C, with a remaining capacity of 68.5 mAh g−1 after 4000 successive long charge-discharge cycles. Ex-situ electrochemical XRD demonstrates the V3+/V4+ redox reaction occurs accompanied by the phase transfer reaction, during which Na+ prefers to diffuse along c-axial in the crustal structure. Moreover, volume alteration of this KNF@CNTs0.04 cellular entity is miniscule and reversible during the charge-discharge process, further confirming the stabilized construction and near-zero strain property. The after-cycled XRD/SEM/XPS certify the improved chemical and structural stability of KNF@CNTs0.04, indicating the constructive effects of K/Ni/F ternary substitution.

Enhancing the thermoelectric properties of PEDOT:PSS films through the incorporation of g-C3N4 nanosheets and carbon nanotubes

Present study focuses on the synthesis of flexible nanocomposite film made of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and how the g-C3N4 nanosheets and CNTs affect the thermoelectric properties of PEDOT:PSS. Incorporating 10 wt% of g-C3N4 nanosheets to PEDOT:PSS improved the Seebeck coefficient to 74.3 μVK−1, ∼5 times higher than the PEDOT:PSS film. However, this led to a decrease in electrical conductivity, limiting the power factor to 335.4 μWm−1K−2. In order to address this, CNTs were added as conductive fillers. The resulting PEDOT:PSS composite, with 10 wt% of g-C3N4 and 10 wt% CNTs, showed a significant power factor of 589.8 μWm−1K−2, an electrical conductivity of 810.6 Scm−1, and a Seebeck coefficient of 84.5 μVK−1, indicating a substantial improvement in the thermoelectric performance of pristine PEDOT:PSS. The increased Seebeck coefficient in the PEDOT:PSS and g-C3N4 composite is due to reduced carrier concentration and energy filtering at the interfaces. The enhancement in electrical conductivity and the Seebeck coefficient after adding CNTs is attributed to the formation of conductive networks, increased mobility, and energy filtering at the interfaces between PEDOT:PSS and CNTs. The study suggests that combining g-C3N4 nanosheets and CNTs with PEDOT:PSS could enhance the thermoelectric performance of PEDOT:PSS-based materials.

High-Performance Wearable Joule Heater Derived from Sea-Island Microfiber Nonwoven Fabric.

A three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical microfiber bundle-based scaffold integrated with silver nanowires (AgNWs) and porous polyurethane (PU) was designed for the Joule heater via a facile dip-coating method. The interconnected micrometer-sized voids and unique hierarchical structure benefit uniform AgNWs anchored and the formation of a high-efficiency 3D conductive network. As expected, this composite exhibits a superior electrical conductivity of 1586.4 S/m and the best electrothermal conversion performance of 118.6 °C at 2.0 V compared to reported wearable Joule heaters to date. Moreover, the durable microfiber bundle-PU network provides strong mechanical properties, allowing for the stable and durable electrothermal performance of such a composite to resist twisting, bending, abrasion, and washing. Application studies show that this kind of Joule heater is suitable for a wide range of applications, such as seat heating, a heating jacket, personal thermal management, etc.

The Influence of Molecular Weights on Dispersion and Thermoelectric Performance of Alkoxy Side-Chain Polythiophene/Carbon Nanotube Composite Materials.

In the development of wearable electronic devices, the composite modification of conductive polymers and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) has become a burgeoning research area. This study presents the synthesis of a novel polythiophene derivative, poly(3-alkoxythiophene) (P3(TEG)T), with alkoxy side chains. Different molecular weight variants of P3(TEG)T (P1-P4) were prepared and combined with SWCNTs to form composite materials. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed a reduced bandgap for P3(TEG)T. Raman spectroscopy demonstrated π-π interactions between P3(TEG)T and SWCNTs, facilitating the dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes and the formation of a continuous conductive network. Among the composite films, P4/SWCNTs-0.9 exhibited the highest thermoelectric performance, with a power factor (PF) value of 449.50 μW m-1 K-2. The fabricated flexible thermoelectric device achieved an output power of 3976.92 nW at 50 K, with a tensile strength of 59.34 MPa for P4/SWCNTs. Our findings highlight the strong interfacial interactions between P3(TEG)T and SWCNTs in the composite material, providing an effective charge transfer pathway. Furthermore, an improvement in the tensile performance was observed with an increase in the molecular weight of the polymer used in the composite, offering a viable platform for the development of high-performance flexible organic thermoelectric materials.

Recyclable, healable, and stretchable thermoset shape memory polythiourethane/carbon nanotube composite with segregated conductive structure for strain sensing

AbstractSegregated conductive polymer composites (CPCs) show high conductivity at low loading of filler. However, the weak interactions between fillers and polymer matrix may destroy the mechanical property of the segregated CPCs. Moreover, even with the introduction of dynamic bonds in thermoset polymers, the preparation of thermosetting CPCs remains a big challenge, as most crosslinked polymers should be ground into granules or crushed into powder with liquid nitrogen before mixing with fillers. Herein, the dynamic crosslinked polythiourethane microspheres (PTUM) are designed and synthesized. Then, a special mixing method (the mixing temperature is higher than melting temperature of soft segments of PTUM) is used to make the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) adhering closely to the surface of the crosslinked PTUM, promoting the formation of compacted conductive network. The CNT‐3%/PTUM shows the electrical conductivity of 21.9 S/m and an elongation at break of 472%. Additionally, the CNT/PTUM composites exhibit good self‐healing property, reprocessability, and close‐loop recycling property. The construction of dynamic crosslinked microspheres and compacted segregated conductive network in this work supplies a new approach to prepare thermoset CPCs with simultaneous high electrical conductivity and mechanical property, which is expected to be applied to wearable strain sensors.

Development of Wood-Based functional composites for advanced sensing and energy conversion applications

With the low carbon-driven development of modern intelligent, research towards novel materials is concentrating on the sustainable biomass-based advanced functional composites. The advanced functionalized wood toward sensing, optoelectronic devices, and energy conversion has been contributed to fast electron transport upon temperature or photo stimulus. Fast electron transport has been highly depended on the interfacial adhesion between the functional layer and wood matrix as well as graphitization degree during carbonization, which promote the electronic excitation and jumps. Here, we develop wood-based functional composites for advanced fire warning and energy conversion by loading metal–insulator transition (MIT) function factor (Ti3O5) onto different woods via liquid crosslinkers, and systematically establish the interfacial adhesion-carbonization-electron transport processes and their relationships on the sensing and photothermal conversion properties. Firstly, balsa with high porosity (pore diameter ≈50 μm), low density (0.16 g/cm3) and extractives content (total extractives content 16.27 %) facilitates crosslinker penetration due to the more holding space and lower nonpolar components. A favorable permeation can promote better interfacial adhesion, and the formation of a continuous conductive network of char-layers during carbonization. Secondly, the crosslinker (chitosan) with excellent adhesion (1 level) and char-forming ability (char residues is 21.7 %), facilitates the formation of a compact network of highly graphitized char-layers (ID/IG=0.81), which increases the electrical conductivity (highest conductivity 5.52 × 10-4 S/m). We found that the most sensitive flame trigger time (0.86 s) for fire warning and the highest evaporation flux (1.63 kg m-2h−1) for desalination can be obtained by using balsa which coupled the chitosan as well as the Ti3O5.

Fabrication of Heat-generating Polyester through Formation of Conductive Silver Nanowire Network

Fabrication of Heat-generating Polyester through Formation of Conductive Silver Nanowire Network

Thin thickness electromagnetic wave absorbent: Fe3O4 decorated carbon nanofibers composite with designable 3D hierarchical architecture

Designable 3D hierarchical architecture with multi-component heterostructure has been built to form a connected network by fully utilizing the advantages of one-dimensional carbon nanofibers. Fe3O4 decorated carbon nanofibers, which exhibited core-shell microstructures, were successfully prepared by solvothermal and electrospinning technology. Their electromagnetic wave absorption (EWA) performances were explored. The morphology which determined the electromagnetic (EM) parameters can be controlled by adjusting the mass ratio of the raw material. The Fe3O4 decorated carbon nanofibers composite showed an excellent absorbing capability. At a thickness of 2.5 mm, the minimum reflection loss (RLmin) value was −28.28 dB. In particular, the widest effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) can reach up to 2.96 GHz at 1.5 mm. It was more surprising that the effective absorption (RL ≤ −10 dB) occurred when the thickness was only 1.0 mm. The absorption mechanism study revealed that the connected structure facilitated the formation of conductive networks, leading to conductive loss, multiple reflection and scatterings, and interfacial polarization loss. The defects that created during carbonization process enhanced the dipole polarization. The generated magnetic loss which mainly consisted of natural resonance and exchanged resonance loss enhanced the attenuation of EW. Moreover, good impedance matching resulting from the synergistic effect of composition and unique porous network also played an important role. The little filler loading and the thin thickness make the composite have a high EWA performance, which is promising for EWA applications.

The ultra-thin flexible graphite/epoxy bipolar plates adjusted by different surface tension modifiers and application in the fuel cell stack

The graphite-resin composite bipolar plates prepared by the traditional hybrid pressing process exhibit poor conductivity, processability, and wettability due to the graphite flake layer being covered by resin, hindering the formation of a continuous conductive network, which significantly constrains their promotion and application in the field of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). In this paper, an ultra-thin flexible graphite/epoxy composite bipolar plates (BPs) with a thickness of only 0.775 mm is prepared followed by a process of flexible graphite preforming and impregnation curing. The hydrophilicity-modified BPs surface has a contact angle of 59.01° as well as flexural and compressive strengths of 11 MPa and 4 MPa and possesses a high in-plane conductivity of 380 S/cm and a low in-plane specific resistance of 6 mΩ cm2. The electrostack test results show that the hydrophilic runner channel is more conducive to the diffusion and spreading of H2O generated from the cathode-side reduction reaction in the flow channel, so that O2 smoothly passes through the gas diffusion layer to participate in the reduction reaction of O2, and exhibits higher electric power at high current density, while the hydrophobically modified BPs has relatively poor overall performance due to ohmic losses.

Tuning the Emission of Bis-ethylenedioxythiophene-thiophenes upon Aggregation.

The ability of small lipophilic molecules to penetrate the blood-brain barrier through transmembrane diffusion has enabled researchers to explore new diagnostics and therapies for brain disorders. Until now, therapies targeting the brain have mainly relied on biochemical mechanisms, while electrical treatments such as deep brain stimulation often require invasive procedures. An alternative to implanting deep brain stimulation probes could involve administering small molecule precursors intravenously, capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier, and initiating the formation of conductive polymer networks in the brain through in vivo polymerization. This study examines the aggregation behavior of five water-soluble conducting polymer precursors sharing the same conjugate core but differing in side chains, using spectroscopy and various computational chemistry tools. Our findings highlight the significant impact of side chain composition on both aggregation and spectroscopic response.

Two-step modification strategy enhances carbon fiber/old corrugated container fiber flexible conductive film

Carbon fiber (CF) possesses inherent properties of low density, high strength, and environmental stability. Its high aspect ratio and knittability enable the formation of flexible conductive networks. Old corrugated container (OCC) is rich in cellulose and hemicellulose, rendering them flexible and exhibiting a low coefficient of thermal expansion. In this paper, CF/OCC/PVA flexible conductive films were prepared using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the matrix, CF as the conductive filler and OCC as the flexible support material. Firstly, the coupling agent was grafted on the surface of CF to enhance their surface activity, improve the dispersion of CF in solution and the chemical bonding of CF to the matrix. Subsequently, sizing nanoparticles were applied to increase the roughness of the CF surface. This served to increase the volume of the conductive network and enhance the mechanical interlocking between CF and PVA. The results show that the two-step combined modification strategy have a significant positive impact on the interfacial chemical activity, contact angle, and roughness of CF. Moreover, it leads to notable improvements in various properties of the conductive film materials. This finding is relevant for the preparation of CF reinforced other matrix materials as well as for expanding the special properties and application value of CF conductive thin film materials.

Self-Assembled MXene@Fluorographene Hybrid for High Dielectric Constant and Low Loss Ferroelectric Polymer Composite Films.

Modern electrical applications urgently need flexible polymer films with a high dielectric constant (εr) and low loss. Recently, the MXene-filled percolative composite has emerged as a potential material choice because of the promised high εr. Nevertheless, the typically accompanied high dielectric loss hinders its applications. Herein, a facile and effective surface modification strategy of cladding Ti3C2Tx MXene (T = F or O; FMX) with fluorographene (FG) via self-assembly is proposed. The obtained FMX@FG hybrid yields high εr (up to 108 @1 kHz) and low loss (loss tangent tan δ = 1.16 @ 1 kHz) in a ferroelectric polymer composite at a low loading level (the equivalent of 1.5 wt % FMX), which is superior to its counterparts in our work (e.g., FMX: εr = 104, tan δ = 10.71) and other studies. It is found that the FG layer outside FMX plays a critical role in both the high dielectric constant and low loss from experimental characterizations and finite element simulations. For one thing, FG with a high F/C ratio would induce a favorable structure of high β-phase crystallinity, extensive microcapacitor networks, and abundant interfacial dipoles in polymer composites that account for the high εr. For another, FG, as a highly insulating layer, can inhibit the formation of conductive networks and inter-FMX electron tunneling, which is responsible for conduction loss. The results demonstrate the potential of a self-assembled FMX@FG hybrid for high εr and low loss polymer composite films and offer a new strategy for designing advanced polymer composite dielectrics.

Piezoresistivity of carbon fiber-reinforced alkali-activated materials: Effect of fly ash microspheres and quartz sands

Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) have gained increasing attention as potential candidates for conductive and self-sensing concretes. This study investigated the effect of fly ash microspheres and quartz sands on the piezoelectric properties of carbon fiber-reinforced alkali-activated fly ash/slag (AAFS) mortars. The rheological property, mechanical property, resistivity, and piezoelectric properties of different AAFS mortars were investigated. Our findings demonstrated that the use of fly ash microspheres (FAM) significantly reduced the yield stress and plastic viscosity of the mortars due to the "ball bearings" effect. In addition, the finer particles of FAM led to a dense gel pore structure of AAFS. The use of FAM improved carbon fiber dispersion and formed a stable conductive network. Therefore, AAFS mortars with FAM exhibited superior conductivity and piezoelectricity. The use of quartz sands exhibited adverse effects on the self-sensing properties of AAFS mortars. The incorporation of quartz sands predominantly hindered the conductive network formation of carbon fibers, resulting in a significantly higher resistivity and piezoresistivity with low strain sensitivity.

Highly sensitive and ultra-durable microfiber-based sensor with synergistic conductive network for motion detection

Smart wearable devices have applications in diverse fields, including sports, medicine, electronic skin, and human–machine interactions. However, the effective integration of flexible sensors into clothing to create practical wearable devices remains a formidable challenge. Thus, this study designed a resilient and flexible sensor featuring an innovative “island-bridge”-structured conductive network. The remarkable flexibility and adaptability of the proposed sensor allows for its seamless integration into various clothing styles, thereby preserving the original aesthetics and comfort of the garment. Consequently, it facilitates real-time monitoring of physiological and environmental data while enhancing ergonomic characteristics. In this study, electrospun fibers were meticulously modified using MXene and carbon nanotubes, resulting in their physical and chemical integration and the formation of a dependable conductive network. The island-bridge design significantly improved the sensor performance, which achieved a remarkable gauge factor of 30.5, fast response time of 57 ms, and expanded detection range of 0–570 %. Furthermore, owing to the exceptional elasticity of the electrospun fibers, the sensor demonstrated outstanding durability, maintaining consistent sensing performance even after 65,000 draw cycles. Thus, this study presents a novel approach for designing and fabricating flexible sensors and highlights their potential for various practical applications.

Formation of Conductive Networks in Polysulfone Filled with Graphite-Derived Materials

Composites based on polysulfone materials filled with various types of graphite and carbon black were studied and a solution technique was used to create composite materials with filling degrees ranging from 30 to 70% by weight. High filling levels with graphite fillers enabled thermal conductivity of 17.4 W/m·K to be achieved. The addition of carbon black as a filler to the composite helped to improve its mechanical characteristics, and its influence on electrical and thermal conductivity has also been explored. Natural graphite provides the best effect on composite thermal and electrical properties, whereas using artificial graphite allows to improve the mechanical behavior of composites. The relationship between sample density, porosity, and composition, as well as the effect of these factors on composite conductivity, has been studied and addressed.