How to improve the mechanical strength of graphene-based carbon fibers

In recent years, physical and chemical properties of graphene its high Young\’s modulus, high tensile strength, excellent carrier mobility and the like has been widespread concern internationally. To excellent performance monolithic graphene transferred onto its macroscopic assembly (graphene fiber, graphene films, graphene airgel), scientists graphene and graphene oxide as raw materials for a lot of attempts. Wherein a high strength, high electrical and thermal conductivity fibers graphene demonstrated its great future in the field of energy storage, and the like of the flame retardant. At present, the main advantage of graphene oxide prepared as a raw material aqueous graphene fibers by solution spinning process and subsequent reduction prepared. Further, by regulating the size of the graphene sheet, the introduction of ionomer, etc. mixed with a polymer can improve the mechanical strength of the graphene fibers. However, according to Griffith theory, enhance the mechanical strength of the sacrificial fibers are often based on elongation at break, and elongation at break is too small to limit the application of the fibers in the actual production. Graphene using fiber technology is currently produced in the presence of large number of defects inside thereof, and there is only a weak van der Waals force between the graphene sheets, it is difficult to achieve high mechanical properties. Beijing Research Institute of Chemical research team to improve the original method of preparation, the phenol resin is added in the graphene oxide fibers and high temperature carbonization was converted to amorphous carbon, amorphous carbon generated newly positioned between the graphene sheets, fibers can make up defects inner part and the fiber densified reinforcing fiber tensile strength. Meanwhile, the amorphous carbon may be introduced between the graphene sheets newly generated CC bond, to enhance the interaction between the graphene sheets, fibers prevent relative sliding of the graphene sheets under tension force, in order to achieve enhanced mechanical At the same time increasing the strength of the elongation at break. The use of such method of preparing a graphene based carbon fiber tensile strength of up to 1.45 GPa, the elongation at break 1.8%, respectively, by 113% and 38% pure graphene fibers having a Young\’s modulus reaches 120 GPa. Further, due to the formation of new chemical bonds and reduce defects, the conductive properties of the fibers also improve the electrical conductivity reached 8.4 × 104 S / m. Graphene-based carbon fibers prepared by the method of its high strength, high elongation, high electrical conductivity, etc., expected to be widely used in the field of wearable devices, energy storage, light conductors, solar cell materials. For more, read the following related articles:The method of preparing a graphene Industry Trend rich mesostructure graphene and graphene lightly crosslinked silicone resin mixed to a G-putty