Assessing the combination of graphene and graphene oxide nanosheets in cement-based materials

• Published in: Cement & concrete composites 2024-11, Vol.154, p.105800, Article 105800
• Main Authors: Bui, Quoc-Bao, Bui, Thanh-Bao, Nguyen, Ngoc-Tuan, Le, Tuan, da Silva, Yuri Ferreira, Perré, Patrick, Nguyen, Dang Mao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D microstructure; Cement mortar; Compressive strength; Engineering Sciences; Graphene; Graphene oxide
• ISSN: 0958-9465
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2024.105800

Graphene (Gr) and Graphene Oxide (GO) are graphene-based nanosheet (GNS) materials with ultrahigh mechanical properties. The addition of Gr/GO (from 0.01 % to 2 % in mass) to a cement-based material can significantly enhance its mechanical properties. GO has higher efficiency than Gr, but it is more costly. In this paper, a Gr-GO solution was developed by combining Gr and GO in water. The compressive strengths of the samples with and without Gr-GO were determined. Deep analyses were performed by applying several imaging techniques such as nano-tomography, SEM, and confocal Raman imaging to exploit the correlation between microstructural properties and mechanical properties and durability of cement-based materials. The microstructural properties were also quantified from the 3D images obtained by nano-tomography. The results showed that the GNS-added sample had a higher porosity (about 12.4 %) than that of the reference sample (about 6.1 %) but the GNS-added sample had a more homogeneous distribution of micropores. Raman imaging results explained the formation of hydration product and acceleration of hydration rate by Gr-GO in GNS-added samples. The mechanical properties showed that the addition of 0.03 % Gr-GO could increase the compressive strength of mortar samples by 28 %. [Display omitted] •A mixture combining Graphene (Gr) and Graphene Oxide (GO) was developed.•Addition of 0.03 % Gr-GO increased the compressive strength of mortar by 28 %.•3D microstructural properties of samples were analyzed.•The correlation between microstructure and mechanical properties of samples was exploited.