Electrical and optical percolations in PMMA/GNP composite films

ABSTRACT

Effects of graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) addition on the electrical conductivity and optical absorbance of poly(methyl methacrylate)/graphene nanoplatelet (PMMA/GNP) composite films were studied. Optical absorbance and two point probe resistivity techniques were used to determine the variations of the optical and electrical properties of the composites, respectively. Absorbance intensity, A, and surface resistivity, R_s, of the composite films were monitored as a function of GNP mass fraction (M) at room temperature. Absorbance intensity values of the composites were increased and surface resistivity values were decreased by increasing the content of GNP in the composite. Electrical and optical percolation thresholds of composite films were determined as M_σ = 27.5 wt.% and M_op = 26.6 wt.%, respectively. The conductivity and the optical results were attributed to the classical and site percolation theories, respectively. Optical (β_op) and electrical (β_σ) critical exponents were calculated as 0.40 and 1.71, respectively.

KEYWORDS:

• Poly(methyl methacrylate)
• graphene nanoplatelet (GNP)
• percolation
• critical exponents
• conductivity

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Trakya University Scientific Research Project Unit [TUBAP-2016/146].

The authors would like to thank Prof. Dr Mustafa Demir for using the laboratory facilities.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Trakya University Scientific Research Project Unit [TUBAP-2016/146].