Study of PDMS-based flexible conductive elastomeric composite filled with rGO-CaCO₃ nanocomposite

ABSTRACT

In this paper, the authors developed a nanocomposite and nano-filled conductive elastomer through a simple and novel approach. First, the rGO-CaCO₃ nanocomposite was synthesized by varying the wt.% of rGO. After that, the nanocomposite unified into the PDMS in the ratio 1:4 (1-part nanocomposite and 4-part PDMS). The influence of doping nanocomposite into the PDMS was thoroughly studied using FESEM, XRD, Raman, XPS, and UV-Vis characterizations. It has been concluded that the doping of nanocomposite enhances the electrical, structural, and optical properties of the PDMS. Absorbance was also, improved, and the optical band gap energy was decreased significantly.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Conductive elastomer
• nanocomposite
• optical band gap
• PDMS
• rGO

Acknowledgments

We want to thank Harish Biswakarma from the Mechanical Engineering Department of IIT, Dhanbad, and BIT Mesra Ranchi for extending their support for the Characterization of nanocomposite during this research work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Authors’ contributions

All authors have same contribution in the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Swaroop Kumar Mandal

Swaroop Kumar Mandal, M.Tech., is presently doing PhD in Mechanical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur, India (an Institute of National Importance, Government of India). He is working in the field of nanomaterial, development of nanocomposite and energy harvesting. He received Master’s degree in Heat Power from BIT Sindri, India in Mechanical Engineering Department.

Deepak Kumar

Deepak Kumar, PhD., is presently, working as Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur, India (an Institute of National Importance, Government of India). He is working in the field of damage mechanics of Composite Materials, Nanocomposites, Smart Materials, Product Design, and development of biomaterials. He received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from MAHE, India, Master’s degree in Computer Aided Analysis and Design from BIT, Mesra, India and PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Gyeongsang National University, South Korea. His PhD thesis was about a multiscale damage model for composite structures, which considered the onset and evolution of intra-laminar matrix cracking and interlaminar delamination in various ply-configurations considering the mixed mode failure. Deepak also, gained valuable experimental expertise in the areas of automated fiber placement technologies and composite bolted-joint mechanics. His latest research interests are the development of nanocomposites for the development of super capacitor, energy devices and artificial tissues.