Effects of different mixing methods on the conductivities of poly(2-ethyl aniline)/graphene and poly(2-ethyl aniline)/expanded graphite composites

Abstract

In this study, the preparation of poly(2-ethyl aniline) (PEAn)/Graphene and PEAn/Expanded Graphite (EG) composites using different mixing methods and the effect of the preparation conditions of composites on their electrical conductivities were investigated. Herein, it was examined both the effect of the sonication time of EG and Graphene in HCl medium before the polymerization on their homogeneous dispersion in the PEAn matrix and the effect of the three different mixing methods, including magnetic stirring, ultrasonication, and ball milling, on the formation of network in the composites. From the morphological characterization obtained by SEM, due to π-π* electron interaction, 2-EAn molecules were polymerized on the surface of graphene and EG. It was determined that the composite with the highest conductivity was obtained by in situ polymerization of 2-EAn in the presence of graphene via a ball milling method for 10 h, after the sonication of graphene in aqueous HCl medium for 6 h. The conductivity of this PEAn/Graphene (1:1 by weight) composite increased from 3.5x10⁻⁷ Scm⁻¹ to 1.57 Scm⁻¹ compared to pure PEAn.

Keywords:

• Graphene
• expanded graphite
• mixing methods
• composites
• poly(2-ethyl aniline)
• electrical conductivity

Acknowledgments

I would like to express my gratitude to Prof. Dr. Kerim YAPICI who provided valuable supports during the study and also to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Özer for his help in obtaining SEM images.