A mechanically strong, flexible and conductive film based on bacterial cellulose/graphene nanocomposite

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers 2012-01, Vol.87 (1), p.644-649
• Main Authors: Feng, Yiyu, Zhang, Xuequan, Shen, Yongtao, Yoshino, Katsumi, Feng, Wei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bacteria; Bacterial cellulose; cellulose; Composites; Conductivity; electrical conductivity; Exact sciences and technology; films (materials); Flexible; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; graphene; Graphene oxide; infrared spectroscopy; modulus of elasticity; nanocomposites; nanosheets; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; tensile strength; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2011.08.039

► A mechanically strong and flexible nanocomposites film of bacterial cellulose (BC) and graphene oxide (GO) was obtained. ► GO nanosheets were uniformly dispersed in the BC matrix. ► The BC/GO film shows in 10% and 20% increase in Young's modulus and tensile strength with 5wt% GO. ► The conductivity of the BC/GO film with 1wt% reduced GO showed a remarkable increase by 6 orders of magnitude. A highly flexible nanocomposite film of bacterial cellulose (BC) and graphene oxide (GO) with a layered structure was presented using the vacuum-assisted self-assembly technique. Microscopic and X-ray diffraction measurements demonstrated that the GO nanosheets were uniformly dispersed in the BC matrix. The interactions between BC and GO were studied by Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy. Compared with pristine BC, the integration of 5wt% GO resulted in 10% and 20% increase in Young's modulus and tensile strength of the composite film. The electrical conductivity of the composite film containing 1wt% GO after in situ reduction showed a remarkable increase by 6 orders of magnitude compared with the insulated BC.