Electrically conducting porous hydrogels by a self-assembled percolating pristine graphene network
Reihaneh Mohammadi Sejoubsari, Thomas O. Xu, Shawn P. Ward, Nishadi M. Bandara, Zhihao Zhang, Douglas H. Adamson
Abstract
and tunable porosity. Our approach avoids the need for the conductivity-degrading oxidation process to form GO and decreases the amount of graphitic filler needed for percolation, leading to superior mechanical properties. The concentration of monomer and graphite in the emulsion was optimized to control the cell size, stability, and swelling behavior of the final hydrogels, offering versatility in structure and functionality. Electrical conductivity and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed the stability and conductive properties imparted by the graphene network. This method demonstrates a cost-effective route to conductive hydrogels, making them promising candidates for applications in sensors, energy storage, bioelectronics, and other advanced technologies.