Using graphene networks to build bioinspired self-monitoring ceramics

Olivier T. Picot, Victoria G. Rocha, Claudio Ferraro, Na Ni, Eleonora D’Elia, Sylvain Meille, Jerome Chevalier, Theo Saunders, Ton Peijs, Mike J. Reece and Eduardo Saiz ()
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Olivier T. Picot: School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London
Victoria G. Rocha: Centre for Advanced Structural Ceramics, Imperial College London
Claudio Ferraro: Centre for Advanced Structural Ceramics, Imperial College London
Na Ni: Centre for Advanced Structural Ceramics, Imperial College London
Eleonora D’Elia: Centre for Advanced Structural Ceramics, Imperial College London
Sylvain Meille: Université de Lyon, INSA Lyon, MATEIS CNRS UMR5510
Jerome Chevalier: Université de Lyon, INSA Lyon, MATEIS CNRS UMR5510
Theo Saunders: School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London
Ton Peijs: School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London
Mike J. Reece: School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London
Eduardo Saiz: Centre for Advanced Structural Ceramics, Imperial College London

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract The properties of graphene open new opportunities for the fabrication of composites exhibiting unique structural and functional capabilities. However, to achieve this goal we should build materials with carefully designed architectures. Here, we describe the fabrication of ceramic-graphene composites by combining graphene foams with pre-ceramic polymers and spark plasma sintering. The result is a material containing an interconnected, microscopic network of very thin (20–30 nm), electrically conductive, carbon interfaces. This network generates electrical conductivities up to two orders of magnitude higher than those of other ceramics with similar graphene or carbon nanotube contents and can be used to monitor ‘in situ’ structural integrity. In addition, it directs crack propagation, promoting stable crack growth and increasing the fracture resistance by an order of magnitude. These results demonstrate that the rational integration of nanomaterials could be a fruitful path towards building composites combining unique mechanical and functional performances.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14425

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